This study examined external radiation exposure in the family of a patient receiving radioactive 131I therapy for thyroid cancer and records of contact with the patient, to clarify the actual situation of external exposure in family members. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted to clarify the patients’ anxiety about radiation exposure in their family members.
The mean overall radiation dose at 8 days was 16.0 µSv (range, 11.9–18.4 µSv). Significant differences were observed between patients in the radiation dose every 24 hours after discharge from the first to the eighth day (p=.003). The dose on the first day after discharge was significantly higher than that on the fifth day (p=.044), the seventh day (p=.006), and the eighth day (p=.0014).
Many patients and family members did not express any particular concerns about the possibility of patients’ radiation exposure affecting those around them. However, one patient was concerned about the influence of radiation exposure on his/her other organs, and another patient was advised to restrict his/her activities because of a non-family member’s concern about radiation exposure affecting others, especially children, around the patient.