Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to target and destroy cancer cells. This treatment is often a part of a broader cancer care plan, either used alone or in combination with other therapies like surgery or chemotherapy. Many individuals wonder about the safety of being around someone undergoing this treatment, especially when infants are involved. This article clarifies how radiation therapy works and addresses concerns about potential radiation exposure to those around a treated individual.
Understanding Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy damages cancer cells’ genetic material, preventing them from growing and dividing. This aims to eliminate cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy surrounding tissues. There are different methods for delivering radiation, each with distinct implications for interaction.
External beam radiation therapy is the most common type, delivered from a machine outside the body. This machine precisely directs beams at the tumor from various angles, passing through the body to the targeted area. Internal radiation therapy, known as brachytherapy, involves placing radioactive sources directly inside the body, close to cancer cells. These sources can be temporary, removed after a set period, or permanent, remaining in the body but losing their radioactivity over time. Systemic radiation therapy uses radioactive substances given orally or intravenously, which travel through the bloodstream to target cancer cells throughout the body.
Does Radiation Treatment Make a Person Radioactive?
The potential for a person to become radioactive after treatment depends entirely on the type of radiation therapy received. This distinction is important for understanding safety around others, particularly babies.
For patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy, there is no residual radioactivity in their body. The radiation is generated by a machine and affects cells only while the machine is active. Once the treatment session ends, the patient does not emit radiation and poses no risk to others. Therefore, it is safe for infants and other family members to be around someone receiving external beam radiation therapy immediately after their sessions.
In internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy), radioactive sources are placed inside the body. If temporary implants are used, the patient is only radioactive while the source is in place. Once these sources are removed, the patient is no longer radioactive. For permanent implants, such as small radioactive seeds, the radiation emitted is very localized and decreases over weeks to months. While the dose to others is generally low, healthcare providers may advise some precautions, such as limiting very close or prolonged contact with young children and pregnant individuals for a short period.
Systemic radiation therapy involves administering radioactive substances that circulate throughout the body. Patients become temporarily radioactive because the radioactive material is within their system. The radioactive substance is gradually eliminated from the body through various bodily fluids like urine, sweat, and saliva. During this period, which can last several days, specific precautions are often necessary to protect others from exposure.
Practical Safety Measures for Families
If a family member undergoes internal or systemic radiation therapy, specific instructions from the healthcare team are paramount. For systemic treatments, patients might be advised to maintain a certain distance from others, especially infants and pregnant individuals, for a specified duration. This could involve sleeping in a separate bed or using a separate bathroom. Patients may also need to take precautions with bodily fluids, such as flushing the toilet twice, washing hands thoroughly, and separating laundry. These measures are designed to minimize potential exposure to the radioactive material as it leaves the body.
Consulting Healthcare Professionals
Understanding radiation therapy’s safety implications requires direct communication with the patient’s oncology team. Each person’s treatment plan is unique, and the specific type and dose of radiation will determine any necessary precautions.
The medical team, including doctors, nurses, and radiation therapists, can provide personalized guidance regarding interactions with family members, particularly infants and young children. They are the most reliable source for answering questions about safety measures and ensuring everyone understands how to support the patient while protecting themselves. It is always appropriate to ask the healthcare team about any concerns regarding radiation exposure.