Card Carrying Member

On Wednesday, I came across this article on Yahoo! about concern over the amount of radiation emitted from thyroid cancer patients. Apparently we are setting off alarms in subway systems and contaminating hotel rooms. DUH! You give us a radioactive substance to ingest and then give us the isolation precaution guidelines. 

We can’t be around children or pregnant people and have heard that some people have killed their pets with their radioactivity – BUT – you hand us those pills in the lead container and tell us not to worry because there are no side effects and that they are “safe” to ingest and pose little to no risk to others.  As a patient, I can tell you I was terrified about taking I-131 because I did a whole lot of research for myself because the doctors just dismissed concerns.  I was frustrated, stressed, and let’s face it I was so hypo I wasn’t thinking clearly.  I did the best I could.  I stayed out of my apartment so my radiation didn’t leak through the wall of my bathroom and accidentally injure the toddler living next door.  I stayed away so Gil & Chloe wouldn’t lay near me and later die of radiation exposure.  I brought my own bed linens to the hotel I went to and I didn’t allow housekeeping to enter until I left 7 days later.

I made the big mistake of reading the comments on the article.  I’m sure many people comment just to try and get a rise out of others or because they think they are he-larry–ious.  Calling the patients irresponsible in some cases and saying they shouldn’t be given anything and just left to die in others.   They pissed me off. 

All I have to say is I hope that they and their loved ones never have to deal with cancer.  Especially not a cancer like thyroid cancer where even the professionals can’t agree how to treat you.