The Use of Iodine I-131 in Radiotherapy

This post is from my own research during my study at BAU, it is part of my senior project.

Radioactive iodine treatment is a type of internal radiotherapy. The treatment uses a radioactive form of iodine called iodine 131 (I-131). The radioactive iodine circulates throughout the body in the bloodstream. Thyroid cancer cells pick up the iodine wherever they are in your body. The radiation in the iodine then kills the cancer cells.

Radioactive iodine is a targeted treatment. It is mainly taken up by thyroid cells, having little affect on other cells.

Iodine 131 is a radioisotope with a very short half-life of 8 days.