Mon, Jun-06-05, 15:44
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Champagne Paulie
Posts: 13,589
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Plan: My Fitness Pal
Stats: 156.2/123.8/120
BF:Got some, thanks
Progress: 90%
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne,U K
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It was my appointment at the Oncology Department today and this is what happened.
My appointment was at 11am and we actually arrived 15 minutes early (unusual for me ) Derek and I were shown into a room and had to wait a short time before a doctor came in. She again went through what Prof Lennard had said, just to make sure I knew why I had been referred to them. She then explained what they would do.
On July 12th I have to stop taking my thyroxine. On July 13th, I have to start taking T3 tablets which I have to take 3 times a day. This does the job of the thyroxine, but it is much shorter lasting whic is why you have to take it 3 times daily. I take the T3 for two weeks and then stop. I then wait until August 12th (taking no medication) and go to the hospital for a radioactive iodine capsule. The following day I have a neck scan (which checks to see how the radioactivity is being taken up by the thyroid tissue). The following day, I have a whole body scan. Depending on the results of the rests and wheter the cancer cells are reacting to te radioactive iodine, I will then go into hospital for about 3 days for some radioactive iodine doses. If I have the treatment, I will be radioactive for a few days and the hospital staff can only have minimal contact with me Visitors have to sit at the other end of the room and not step over a line on the floor. (Just like reporting at immigration when you get off a flight) If, however the radioactive iodine doesn't show that it's doing its job, I will then be given another form of radioactivity.
I did also speak to a girl from the Butterfly Trust swho has had the treatment. She says that one of the downsides is that when you stop taking the thyroxine and T3 you become unbelievingly tired. Still, it has to be done to have the test.
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