Lucy Younger, a 24-year-old woman from London, turned radioactive due to extreme cancer therapy after being diagnosed with a thyroid tumor. She underwent two surgeries and radiotherapy as part of her treatment. The radio-iodine therapy she received required her to limit human contact, spending four days isolated in a room and then limiting contact for a further nine days. Her girlfriend, Ellie, was forced to sleep in the hallway to avoid being exposed to the radioactivity.
During her isolation period, Lucy spent her time alone in a room with only her clingfilmed phone for company. She would pass the time by looking out at the 13th-floor view of London. Lucy had to swallow a tablet through a long tube to reduce the risk of radioactive contamination. Her screen time on her phone increased to over six hours daily to distract herself from the effects of the treatment on her swollen neck. Due to her epilepsy, Lucy’s mother was allowed to visit and bring her small treats from the outside world, while wearing protective gear.
After the four days of isolation, Lucy was told she could not share a bed with anyone for nine days. Her mother, who had already been exposed to radioactivity, also had to isolate herself in a different bedroom. This meant that Ellie had to sleep in the hallway to protect herself. Lucy described the experience as challenging and having a strain on her relationship with Ellie, especially as she also had to manage her epilepsy. Radioactivity carries risks of cancer and impacts fertility, making it a dangerous condition for those exposed.
Lucy had previously battled cancer at the age of 20 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her experience with thyroid cancer and the radio-iodine therapy treatment was more lonely and isolating than she expected. After two weeks, Lucy returned to the hospital to have her levels checked and was found to no longer be radioactive, allowing her to finally hug her partner. She has since shared her experience on TikTok to raise awareness about this lesser-known cancer treatment.
Radio-iodine therapy is an isolating cancer treatment that does not receive as much attention as chemotherapy does. Even Lucy’s mother had to isolate for a few days after visiting her due to the radioactivity exposure. Lucy hopes to create more awareness and space for this type of treatment in the cancer space. She recommends MacMillan Radio-iodine as a resource for those going through a similar experience. Lucy emphasizes the importance of considering the impact of cancer treatment not only on the patient but on the lives of their loved ones as well.
