Radioactive Iodine Thyroid Cancer Treatment (I131)
and Follow-Up Clinic
The team of physicians at Northeast Oncology Associates (NOA) provides radioactive iodine treatment (I131) for people who require this highly specialized treatment and follow-up care after the removal of their thyroid cancer. Regional Hospital of Scranton, which is a partner with the physicians at NOA, is the only facility in Lackawanna County licensed and equipped for the inpatient stay that is necessary for this treatment procedure.
What is I131 treatment?
Iodine I131 is a radioactive form of iodine that destroys thyroid cancer cells that may remain after the removal of a cancerous thyroid gland. It is a non-invasive therapy which is given as an easily swallowed capsule.
Why does the administration of I131 require hospitalization?
Because the capsule of iodine contains a highly radioactive substance, the patient must be cared for and monitored in a facility licensed and equipped to control such radioactive material, so no one else is unnecessarily exposed to the radioactive material.
