Alternative, Complementary Cancer Treatments Forum, Cancer Discussions, Cancer Support and Community Connection Forum - March 19th, 2010 - 6 Comments
Is it dangerous for a pregnant woman to go near someone that is doing cancer radiation therapy?
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There are 6 comments for this post.
Alot of people got this question right.
Usually radiation therapy refers to external beam where you are treated with a radiation beam. After such treatment you are not radioactive, and thus are not a risk to anyone.
If you have radioactive material implanted, this is called Brachytherapy or unsealed source radiotherapy or been given a radiotracer, then you are a risk. They don’t release you until you are considered safe, but the guidelines on general public exposure are strict so they will instruct you to avoid pregnant women, kids, and elderly etc.
It depends. Is it external beam radiation? Then no, it’s not. The person is not "radioactive" as the radiation is only present when the beam is turned on.
For implanted radiation emitting devices though, there is a small risk of very low levels of exposure to people around the person.
NO are you kidding.
You don’t stand next to them while they are being treated.
They are not radioactive for gosh sakes. The patient does not glow in the dark. The radiation is absorbed into their tissue and does not linger as radioactive material.
If you do accompny them to their treatment you are in a safe area that is behind lead shields in a room far away from radiation, which is very focused and last only a few seconds. There are no bricks of radoactive materials laying around. The radiation is produced in special tubes that are turned on than off.
You get more radiation standing out side on a sunny day for 15 minutes. Also it depends on your pregnancy. If its late 3rd trimester the risk of everything goes down. Early in the pregnancy cell division is going on at a fast and furious rate, not so much later. Even if you got an Xray the risk may be small to nil. The issue is they don’t know so they error on the side of caution, as they should. You avoid it if you can.
No. While being near them is dangerous for anyone who is standing nearby DURING the procedure, the patient does not become radioactive, so everyone can be safe near a radiation-patient.
YES! It depends on the therapy but one in particular can be harmful to children and pregnant women… Radioactive Iodine (I131) used to destroy thyroid cancer and thyroid cells. The radioactive material is in the patent’s urine and sweat. People are to stay 4 feet away for 3 days. Avoid contact with patients sweat (sheets, towels). Pregnant woman for a week longer.
See link for specific information.
It really depends. Only if it is within a certain time period ( IE 12 hours )