Radiation therapy is a common cancer treatment that uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Concerns about proximity are understandable. The level of precautions needed depends on the specific type of radiation therapy being administered.
Radiation Therapy Approaches
Radiation therapy can be delivered in various ways. External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) uses a machine outside the body to direct radiation at a specific area, such as a tumor, without affecting the entire body.
Internal Radiation, known as brachytherapy, involves placing radioactive sources directly inside the body, either temporarily or permanently, near the tumor. This localized approach delivers a high dose of radiation to the cancer while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The radiation typically does not travel far from the implant site.
Systemic Radiation Therapy utilizes radioactive drugs given orally or intravenously, which then travel through the bloodstream to target cancer cells throughout the body. These drugs, also called radiopharmaceuticals, accumulate in cancer cells, delivering radiation directly to tumors. The entire body becomes radioactive as the substance circulates.
Safety During Treatment
Safety measures during radiation treatment vary significantly depending on the type of therapy. For External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT), the radiation is generated by a machine and affects cells only during the treatment session. Patients are not radioactive during or after treatment and can safely interact with others without precautions.
Conversely, patients receiving internal radiation (brachytherapy) or systemic radiation therapy do become temporarily radioactive and require specific precautions. For brachytherapy, visitors may have limited contact time and need to maintain a certain distance, typically around 6 feet, especially if the source is temporary. If temporary implants are used, precautions are lifted once the source is removed.
Patients undergoing systemic radiation therapy require more extensive precautions. These can include maintaining significant distance, limiting contact time, using separate bathrooms, and careful handling of bodily fluids like urine, sweat, and saliva, as these can contain radioactive material. Healthcare teams provide specific instructions for each patient, which must be followed precisely to minimize exposure to others.
After Treatment and Lingering Effects
The duration of any lingering radioactivity or necessary precautions after radiation treatment depends on the type of therapy received. If temporary brachytherapy implants were used, the patient is no longer radioactive once removed. If permanent implants, such as radioactive seeds for prostate cancer, are used, the radiation is localized and gradually decays over several weeks to months. While the radiation from permanent implants is low and typically not harmful to others, some minimal precautions, like avoiding very close contact with children and pregnant individuals for a limited period, may still be advised.
For systemic radiation therapy, the radioactive substance is gradually eliminated from the body through normal biological processes, including urine, sweat, and saliva. The patient remains radioactive until the substance has decayed and been excreted, which can take days to weeks. Patients receive detailed instructions on managing this period at home, including hygiene practices and limiting close contact with others.
Protecting Vulnerable Individuals
Specific precautions are often heightened for individuals who are particularly sensitive to radiation exposure, such as children and pregnant individuals. Children are generally more susceptible to radiation, so stricter measures, including longer distances or shorter contact times, are often advised if the patient is radioactive. In some cases, direct contact with children might be restricted entirely for a certain period.
Pregnant individuals and their unborn fetuses are especially vulnerable to radiation. Pregnant people should avoid contact with radioactive patients, particularly those undergoing brachytherapy or systemic radiation therapy, due to potential harm to the developing fetus.
Pets may also require distance from a patient who is radioactive, especially if the patient has received systemic radiation or certain types of brachytherapy. Always discuss specific scenarios with the patient’s oncology team for tailored advice, as guidelines can vary based on the type and dose of radiation, as well as the individual circumstances.