Low Iodine Cookbook for Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer often receive a dose of radioactive iodine (RAI) about two months after their surgery in an attempt to destroy (ablate) any remaining thyroid cells in their bodies.  Most thyroid cancer patients also undergo whole-body radioiodine scans at periodic intervals, using a “tracer” dose of RAI. If their scan is not “clean”, they then receive treatment with a larger dose of RAI in an attempt to destroy any remaining thyroid cells in their bodies.  In preparation for an RAI scan or an RAI treatment, patients are usually asked to go on a low-iodine diet.