Lu-177 and cremation

[Cmdrdata]

Since some of us in this group have had or will someday have Lu-177, please be aware that if you later desire to be cremated, your cremation facility need to be informed of this fact. Evidently, Lu-177 may cause the radioactive material to be exposed to the crematory worker. See this: apple.news/Ab2c64d-CTiCEFbY...

[Tall_Allen]

The half-life of Lu-177 is 6.6 days. That means that within 2 months there is almost none left. Much more of an issue is brachytherapy with I-125. It has a half-life of 59.5 days, so it doesn't come down to negligible levels for about a year. Crematoria often remove the prostates of men who have had brachytherapy.

[andrew61 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks - exactly right!

[Cmdrdata in reply to Tall_Allen]

I posted the article since it was from a mainstream magazine (Time). TA is correct that in all sorts of radiation sources “half-life” is a critical info that they did not mention. Looking back, it could be that this is more sensational news reporting. It is perhaps more important if the cremated patient died and cremated soon after treatment. The cremation process is probably not under strict medical control for radiation side effects.

[Valree]

Is it also true that during treatment you have to stay three feet away from people and if so for how long?

[Rileyjoe in reply to Valree]

yes, it is true. My husband is receiving LU-177 now in a clinical trial. I believe it says to stay a few feet away and sleep in separate beds/rooms for about three days. I wear a face mask for a few days afterwards to bring him food, etc. Also use separate bathrooms.

[larry_dammit]

Even when your dead cancer and treatment is terrible 😢😜😜😜

[j-o-h-n in reply to larry_dammit]

Death

Taxes

Prostate Cancer

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 02/28/2019 6:58 PM EST

[monte1111]

There is always one post that brings me laughs and happiness. Isn't there a well respected medical book called Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers? The Crematoria removes the prostates? Besides the ghoulish part of non-medical people removing prostates, what do they do with them? Is there a landfill especially for radioactive prostates? I agree with Nalakrats: Really, are you kidding me!!!

[Moespy]

Here is are articles from Reuters, CNN and NIH that may help with the credibility of what is being purported.

reuters.com/article/us-heal...

cnn.com/2019/02/26/health/r...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[FCoffey in reply to Moespy]

Joking aside, the news reports are concentrated BS designed to sell clicks. They report on a single incident where it was possible to detect Tc99m, not Lu177 after a man was cremated. Every man who has had a bone scan has been exposed to Tc99m; it is the most commonly used medical radioisotope. Tc99m has an even shorter half-life than Lu177m, about 6 hours versus 6 days.

Detection does not mean danger; the instruments are extremely sensitive.

The PMC article doesn't discuss Lu177 at all, but I-125, the radioactive isotope of iodine used in the seeds for PCa brachytherapy. I-125 has a half-life of 60 days, after 20 months (10 half-lives) the levels have decayed to negligible values.

The article admits that, even in the case of a man who died 5 days after the seeds were implanted. The NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) has approved of cremation of cadavers containing radioactive isotopes for over 31 years and gave explicit approval in this case.

It was a non-event. They were able to detect the I-125 in the cremains, but again that is evidence of the sensitivity of the available instruments. The article notes that

"The radiation level dropped to background level when the plastic bag was placed in a metal urn."

Those of us with prostate cancer have a lot of things to worry about. Radiation from cremation is not one of them. It is not necessary to inform the crematorium, nor is any special approval required.

[FCoffey]

Reuters, CNN and NIH: fake news presstitutes copying one another.

One cold winter day a long time ago, a wizened veteran cowboy lay dying.

He called his grandson Johnnie to his side and said, "Johnnie, listen to me carefully.

"For I will give you the secret to a long and fruitful life.

"Each morning, no matter what, when you eat your breakfast,

"stir a pinch of gunpowder into your oatmeal."

Johnnie took his grandfather's advice every day of his life

And he lived to be 112 years old.

When at last he died, old and satisfied with years,

He left 7 children

30 grandchildren

40 great grandchildren

and a 50-foot crater where the crematorium used to be.

[Pizzle123 in reply to FCoffey]

FC , Damn I thought you were serious for a minute that is gold lol

[Garbonzeaux in reply to FCoffey]

That is the funniest thing I have seen all week. Almost as funny as the Lu177 "news".

[j-o-h-n]

My instructions are to use my barbecue grill. That'll should get the neighbor's mouths watering.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 02/28/2019 6:56 PM EST

[Hidden]

And the half life of Paladium 103 is 16.95 days. So depending when one dies after treatment it is not a problem. The major caution I received was to not let my grand daughter sit in my lap for three months to be safe. Sex! Immediately, go for it but wear a condom...... lol and, ...... don’t break it.

GD

[Cmdrdata]

What is sex? It’s been so long I forgot what that is