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CONTACT General Hospital Steve Chambers Lynn Van der Veer 11121 Gambrill Park Road Frederick, MD 21702 301-293-4192  This information was accurate at the time of publication. © 2006 |
| Thyroid Cancer |
At first glance it may seem like science fiction. First, a patient is given a drink that makes him radioactive. He then stays in an isolated hospital room for a few days while the drink goes to work killing cancerous thyroid cells. But for more than 1,000 patients at General Hospital, this treatment has meant the chance for a cure. The drink is radioactive iodine and the therapy is part of the Nuclear Medicine program at General Hospital.
Rev. Craig Barnes, a 43-year-old pastor of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., underwent this treatment five years ago to help treat his thyroid cancer. He's been cancer-free ever since.
Rev. Barnes was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer while living in Wisconsin. There, his thyroid was surgically removed and he was treated with a low dose of radiactive iodine. When he moved to Washington, he sought treatment from Vijay Varma, MD, professor of radiology and director of nuclear medicine at General Hospital. Dr. Varma discovered that Rev. Barnes' cancer was growing agressively in spite of the therapy received in Wisconsin and recommended a higher dose of radioactive iodine treatment.
"He caught it early, treated it appropriately and I immediately went into remission," said Rev. Barnes.
More than a century ago, it was discovered that thyroid cells have a unique ability to absorb iodine. Iodine is found in the bloodstream as a byproduct from many of the foods we eat like milk, shellfish, iodized salt, and in preservatives in processed food. The thyroid needs the iodine to produce the thyroid hormone that regulates the body's metabolism.
Because of the thyroid's unique absorption of iodine, a chemotherapy for thyroid cancer is possible. Radioactive iodine is given as a drink along with water. The iodine enters the bloodstream and is absorbed by the thyroid cells. Then, the radioactivity kills all the thyroid cells, including the cancerous ones, from within. Since all other tissues in the body do not significantly absorb iodine, they are not harmed by the radioactivity.
For Rev. Barnes, receiving the therapy meant a two-day stay in the hospital. By hospitalizing him, doctors were able to isolate him from contact with other people. By drinking the nuclear medicine, he became radioactive. Special precautions regulated by the federal government are taken by the hospital to prevent exposure to any other patients or staff. The effects of the radioactivity wear off after a few days.
"This is one of the safest and effective therapies we have," said Dr. Varma. "Thyroid cancer is one of the most curable cancers because we have this remarkable therapy."
As Rev. Barnes returns to Dr. Varma's office each year for a check-up, he is reminded of his fortunate outcome.
"It is my job to give praise for the gifts we receive," he said. "I am grateful to Dr. Varma and attribute my health to his great skills."
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