Can a child be harmed by being around someone receiving radiation?
No, a child cannot be harmed by being around or living with someone that is receiving external radiation or any other treatment for cancer. The National Cancer Institute states that "external radiation treatment does not make you radioactive.".
Is it safe to hold a baby after radiation therapy?
As you can imagine, having an internal source off radiation in your body can actually harm people around you if you are holding them close. So it’s important to know if the patient is having external therapy or internal theory when we are considering whether it safe for him or her to hold the baby afterward.
Is it safe for babies around cancer patients?
So, as long as we are talking about external therapy such as chemotherapy and other types of radiation from the outside, babies are perfectly safe around the patients. The patient is not radioactive after the treatment and they pose absolutely no danger to anyone and according to Carolyn Vachani, a nurse educator at OncoLink.
Is it safe to have a radiation treatment while pregnant?
If a pregnant woman can go through treatments herself without harming the baby surely you can be around someone that has been treated. Ask your mom's doctors and nurses. People who specialize in radiation treatments should know any possible dangers. I would tend to think you should be fine, especially at the end of your pregnancy.
How long after radiation can you be around babies?
However, you may have to limit contact with other people for up to one week after treatment. It is especially important to avoid close contact with children and women who are pregnant. Be sure to ask your treatment team what precautions you need to take.
Is it safe to be around someone receiving radiation therapy?
Is it safe to be around others while getting radiation treatment? People getting external beam radiation do not have radiation in their body and are not radioactive. People getting internal and systemic radiation can give off radiation for a short time.
Does radiation treatment affect family members?
Any radiation therapy that is transient, including external beam radiation or brachytherapy that is removed, poses no risk to family members. For these types of therapy, patients are exposed to radiation only during active treatment, and radiation is not carried on the patient's body.
What should you not do during radiation?
Avoid raw vegetables and fruits, and other hard, dry foods such as chips or pretzels. It's also best to avoid salty, spicy or acidic foods if you are experiencing these symptoms. Your care team can recommend nutrient-based oral care solutions if you are experiencing mucositis or mouth sores caused by cancer treatment.
Can radiation spread from person to person?
Radiation cannot be spread from person to person. Small quantities of radioactive materials occur naturally in the air, drinking water, food and our own bodies. People also can come into contact with radiation through medical procedures, such as X-rays and some cancer treatments.
Can a chemo patient hold a baby?
You may worry about the safety of family and friends while you are having chemotherapy. There is little risk to visitors, including children, babies and pregnant women, because they aren't likely to come into contact with any chemotherapy drugs or body fluids.
Is radiation worse than chemo?
The radiation beams change the DNA makeup of the tumor, causing it to shrink or die. This type of cancer treatment has fewer side effects than chemotherapy since it only targets one area of the body.
Radiation and possible risk to young children
Can someone who has had radiation comment on the risk to young children? I will be having radiation sometime in the next few weeks and I know there are concerns for people receiving radiation treatments being around young children.
Radiation and possible risk to young children
Thought I would pop a note on your thread although the info is 'second-hand'. When my friend had to have radiation treatment for her breast cancer she also had a young grandchild and at the time was told by her medical team to avoid close contact with baby and toddlers during treatment and for six weeks afterwards.
Radiation and possible risk to young children
Hi there Jules, thanks for that info. I thought I recalled reading something to that effect on here at some point, but of course didn't remember exactly what was said about it.
Radiation and possible risk to young children
It's great that you have been accepted as a candidate for the trials and it could well be that the radiation you are to recieve will not require you to keep your distance. I think I have read somewhere that it depends on the type of radiation (complicated subject!).
Radiation and possible risk to young children
Sorry I havent replied before but I wanted to check up on things. When I had my 37 radiotherapy treatments I was told it posed no danger to children. I did have a CT scan and for this they injected some radio active fluid and I was told not to let children close to me for 24 to 48 hours.
Radiation and possible risk to young children
Hi Jules, thanks so much for your imput on radiation. I guess it depends on how radiation is given and for what purpose, but its' good to at least have some idea as to what kind of questions to ask when I do meet with the team.
How much radiation does a fetus need?
Although radiation doses to a fetus tend to be lower than the dose to the mother, due to protection from the uterus and surrounding tissues, the human embryo and fetus are sensitive to ionizing radiation at doses greater than 0.1 gray (Gy).
Who can help estimate the radiation dose to the embryo?
Radiation experts can assist in estimating the radiation dose to the embryo or fetus. Hospital medical physicists and health physicists are good resources for expertise in estimating the radiation dose to the fetus.
What happens if you get a radiation dose of 0.1 g?
Embryos that survive, however, are unlikely to exhibit congenital abnormalities or other non-cancer health effects , no matter what dose of radiation they received.
What is the purpose of communication during prenatal care?
In this setting, the purpose of the communication is always to promote health and long-term quality of life for the mother and child.
Is prenatal exposure lower than radiation exposure?
Therefore, the risk following prenatal exposure may be considerably lower than for radiation exposure in early childhood.
Can prenatal radiation cause cancer?
However, attempting to quantify cancer risks from prenatal radiation exposure presents many challenges. These challenges include the following: The primary data for the risk of developing cancer from prenatal exposure to radiation come from the lifespan study of the Japanese atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors.
Can a fetal egg survive radiation?
Embryos that survive, however, are unlikely to exhibit congenital abnormalities or other non-cancer health effects, no matter what dose of radiation they received. In all stages post-conception, radiation-induced non-cancer health effects are not detectable for fetal doses below about 0.10 Gy.
What are the risks of radiation?
In general, the potential risks of radiation exposure include: 1 No risk from external radiation treatments. 2 Some risk from temporary internal radiation treatments, which is why these treatments are often done in a hospital in a shielded room. 3 Some risk from permanent internal radiation treatments, at least for the first few days or weeks of treatment, which is why contact with pregnant women and young children might be restricted. 4 Some risk from systemic radiation treatments, which is why contact with pregnant women and young children might be restricted.
How long does radiation treatment last?
Patients receiving temporary internal radiation can sometimes send its high energy rays outside their body, and so that kind of cancer treatment is usually done in the hospital in a private room, at least for a few days while the radiation is most active. And children under age 18 and pregnant women are usually not ...
Is radiation exposure a risk?
Exposure to Radiation Cancer Treatments. In general, the potential risks of radiation exposure include: No risk from external radiation treatments. Some risk from temporary internal radiation treatments, which is why these treatments are often done in a hospital in a shielded room.
Is radiation treatment a risk for a child?
Your family member's oncologist should give you specific details about any restrictions because of their radiation treatment. In fact, your child likely poses much more of a risk to the person being treated for cancer.
Can you have a child with breast cancer in the hospital?
And children under age 18 and pregnant women are usually not allowed to visit them in the hospital. 2. Internal radiation therapy might be used for people with prostate cancer and some types of breast cancer, etc. 1. Systemic radiation is another type of radiation therapy for cancer.
Can a child who lives in a house with a patient who is receiving radiation be affected in any way?
Can a child who lives in a house with a patient that is receiving external radiation for cancer be affected in any way? No, a child cannot be harmed by being around or living with someone that is receiving external radiation or any other treatment for cancer.
Can thyroid cancer be treated with radiation?
Unlike the radioactive pellets that are surgically implanted with internal radiation therapy, with systemic radiation, they get an injection or swallow a radioactive substance, like radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer, to treat their cancer. While being treated, their bodily fluids can be radioactive. 3.
How to avoid radiation therapy?
Avoid contact with pets for a specific amount of time. Avoid public transportation for a specific amount of time. Plan to stay home from work, school, and other activities for a specific amount of time. Again, the information here describes some safety concerns of different types of radiation therapy.
How to get rid of radiation?
Here are examples of things you might be told to do if you're getting systemic radiation treatment: 1 Wash your laundry separately from the rest of the household, including towels and sheets. 2 Sit down when using the toilet (both men and women) to avoid splashing of body waste. 3 Flush the toilet twice after each use, and wash your hands well after using the toilet. 4 Use separate utensils and towels. 5 Drink extra fluids to flush the radioactive material out of your body. 6 No kissing or sexual contact (often for at least a week). 7 Keep a distance away from others in your household. For example, you might be told to keep one arm’s length, or maybe six feet, between yourself and others for a specific length of time. You might also be told to sleep in a separate bed in a separate room for a specific number of nights. This depends on the type of treatment you receive. 8 Avoid contact with infants, children, and women who are pregnant for a specific amount of time. 9 Avoid contact with pets for a specific amount of time. 10 Avoid public transportation for a specific amount of time. 11 Plan to stay home from work, school, and other activities for a specific amount of time.
How does radiation therapy work?
Internal radiation therapy uses a sealed source of radiation that is implanted (put inside your body) where the cancer is located. Depending on the type of implant used, your body may give off a small amount of radiation for a short time.
Why is it important to keep radiation exposure to the people around you?
If you're getting systemic radiation treatment , sometimes safety measures are needed to protect the people around you. This is because the radioactive materials can leave your body through saliva, sweat, blood, and urine and that makes these fluids radioactive. It's very important to keep radiation exposure to the people around you as limited as possible.
How long does radiation stay in your system?
Because of this, some radiation will be in your body for a few days until your body has had a chance to get rid of it.
What is external beam radiation?
External radiation therapy is given from an outside source, involves a beam of radiation aimed at a part of the body, and affects cells in your body only for a moment. Because there’s no radiation source inside your body, you are not radioactive at any time during or after treatment.
How long after radiation treatment should you wash your clothes?
In most cases for systemic radiation treatment, the safety precautions must be followed only the first few days after treatment. Here are examples of things you might be told to do if you're getting systemic radiation treatment: Wash your laundry separately from the rest of the household, including towels and sheets.
Is it safe to work in oncology?
I work in oncology and it's completely safe for you provided you aren't dealing with their bodily fluids. You actually pose more of a risk to them while they're going through this but only if you are unwell.
Is it safe to get chemo after the 2nd trimester?
As far as i know, it's safe to receive chemo after the 2nd trimester, but that being said I don't think you'll have to worry about being around people like me. (I mean, my baby is developing completely normally as far as the obstetrician is concerned and I am receiving chemo directly through the vein.)
How long after radiation therapy can you touch a patient?
With systemic radiation therapy, you may also have to avoid the person's bodily fluids for a few days after treatment.
What are the side effects of radiation?
Some people may have many side effects, while others may have very few. The most common side effects are skin problems and fatigue.
What is systemic radiation?
Another type is systemic radiation, when a radioactive drug is used and either given by mouth or put into a vein. External and internal radiation therapy mostly affect only the part of the body that has cancer while systemic radiation travels throughout the body.
How does radiation work?
Radiation works by breaking the DNA in cancer cells which helps keep them from growing and can cause them to die. Most of the time, radiation is aimed at only the area that has cancer. It doesn’t reach the rest of the body.
What is caregiving during radiation treatment?
October 18, 2019. Taking care of someone with cancer may involve learning some basics about radiation treatments. Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for some types of cancer. It may be used to cure a cancer or shrink tumors, stop cancer from coming back, ...
Can you use lotion on cancer?
Try to protect the area from rubbing or scratching. Tight or stiff clothes may bother the skin. Ask the cancer care team whether it’s OK before using anything on the skin, including soaps, lotions, deodorants, medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, or powder.
Can radiation cause nausea?
Sometimes radiation to the head, neck, or stomach area can cause nausea, and it may help to offer smaller meals or snacks throughout the day and lots of water or other drinks. Radiation to the head and neck may also cause mouth sores that can make eating hard.
How often should a baby flush toilet after chemotherapy?
Toilets should be flushed twice or, if possible, a separate toilet should be used by the person undergoing chemotherapy. A baby visiting a patient undergoing chemotherapy should not be allowed to touch potentially contaminated surfaces in the room.
Why do people wear masks during chemotherapy?
A person undergoing chemotherapy should wear a mask to avoid airborne contamination when around a baby. A person receiving chemotherapy has a higher than normal susceptibility to infection. Even a cold can cause serious illness in a person undergoing chemotherapy, so a baby with even a case of the sniffles should stay away from a person receiving ...
Can chemo be used on babies?
Chemotherapy medications are powerful drugs with dangerous side effects 3. But chemotherapy patients don’t usually isolate themselves completely from babies or small children—nor should they. They should, however, use specific precautions not only to protect themselves from illnesses carried by the baby, but also to protect ...
Can you get cancer from chemotherapy?
Recent studies show that medical workers repeatedly exposed to chemotherapy agents may have a higher risk of developing cancer than those who don’t , MSNBC reports. While a single exposure to a chemotherapy drug probably won’t have any lasting effects, the Cleveland Clinic states, repeated exposures must be avoided.
Is chemotherapy bad for you?
Patient Risks. A person receiving chemotherapy has a higher than normal susceptibility to infection. A sick baby could pass bacteria or viruses on to a person going through chemotherapy.
Radiation Exposure to A Fetus
Estimating The Radiation Dose to The Embryo Or Fetus
- Health effects to a fetus from radiation exposure depend largely on the radiation dose. Estimating the radiation dose to the fetus requires consideration of all sources external and internal to the mother’s body, including the following: 1. Dose from an external source of radiation to the mother’s abdomen. 2. Dose from inhaling or ingesting a radioactive substance that enters the bl…
Potential Health Effects of Prenatal Radiation Exposure
- Table 1 summarizes the potential non-cancer health risks of concern. This table is intended to help physicians advise pregnant women who may have been exposed to radiation, not as a definitive recommendation. The indicated doses and times post-conception are approximations.
Carcinogenic Effects of Prenatal Radiation Exposure
- Radiation exposure to an embryo/fetus may increase the risk of cancer in the offspring, especially at radiation doses > 0.1 Gy, which are well above typical doses received in diagnostic radiology. However, attempting to quantify cancer risks from prenatal radiation exposure presents many challenges. These challenges include the following: 1. The primary data for the risk of developin…