Some patients worry that undergoing radiation therapy can be harmful to others because they are radioactive. For example, patients sometimes think they can't cuddle with their partner or hold a grandchild on their lap until after treatment. However, most patients don't need to worry about being radioactive.
With internal radiation, you may need to avoid touching the patient until the implant is removed or limit the time you spend very close to them. With systemic radiation therapy, you may also have to avoid the person's bodily fluids for a few days after treatment.
Permanent implants remain radioactive after the patient leaves the hospital. Because of this, for 2 months, the patient should not have more than 5 minutes of contact with children or pregnant people. Similarly, people who are treated with systemic radiation therapy should follow safety precautions.
Avoid kissing and physical contact with others, and maintain a distance of at least 3 feet from women who are pregnant and children under 18 years old. Avoid activities where you may be close to others for more than 5 minutes, for example, movie theaters, sporting events and public transportation.
Will I be radioactive? External radiation therapy does not make you radioactive because the radiation does not stay in your body during or after treatment. You will not need to take any special precautions with bodily fluids, and it is safe for you to be with family, friends, children and pregnant women.
Don't wear tight clothing over the treatment area. It's important not to rub, scrub or scratch any sensitive spots. Also avoid putting anything that is very hot or very cold—such as heating pads or ice packs—on your treated skin.
Have a soft or liquid diet if swallowing is difficult. Avoid alcohol – it can make a sore mouth or sensitive digestion worse. Avoid spicy foods if your mouth or throat are sore. Ask your radiotherapy team about potential problems and how to try to prevent them.
Sleep alone for the first few (3 - 4) days. Avoid kissing or sexual intercourse for three to four days after treatment. Do not sleep together for an entire night until a week after treatment. Avoid prolonged physical contact, particularly with children and pregnant women; limit to 15 minutes.
You are also required to self isolate for 7 days after your radioiodine treatment in order to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19 whilst there is still a large amount of radioactivity in your body.
People need to isolate themselves after RAI treatment to prevent others from radiation exposure. It is particularly important to avoid contact with children and pregnant people, as it is especially harmful to developing children.
Having radiotherapy could affect your sex life in several ways. For example, daily treatments for several weeks can make you very tired. You might not feel like having sex. Other side effects, such as diarrhoea or urinary problems could have an impact of being close with another person.
Most side effects generally go away within a few weeks to 2 months of finishing treatment. But some side effects may continue after treatment is over because it takes time for healthy cells to recover from the effects of radiation therapy. Late side effects can happen months or years after treatment.
Being in a room on your own (isolation) protects other people from radiation. Pregnant women and children are not allowed into your room. Other visitors may be able to stay for a short time when it is safe for them to do so. The amount of time staff are allowed into your room is limited.
Can Children Be Around Other People After Getting Radiation? Parents may wonder whether they can touch, hug, and care for their child during and after therapy. Kids and teens who get external radiation therapy have no restrictions on contact with family members.
Take a warm shower and gently wash yourself with lots of soap. Do not scald, scrub, or scratch your skin. Your skin helps protect the inside of your body from radioactive material.
During radiation treatment, the mean weight loss was 4.33 kg, and 53.6% (1303) patients had high weight loss (HWL; ΔW≥5%). The proportion of HWL was higher in patients with advanced T stage, N stage, high BMI level and who received chemotherapy.
Depending on your individual treatment, your treatment team may advise you to wait up to four weeks to recover after finishing chemotherapy and radiotherapy before you travel.
Tiredness after brain radiotherapy
This can be worse if you're also taking steroids. The tiredness often reaches its maximum 1 to 2 weeks after the end of treatment. A small number of people are asleep for a lot of the day after a long course of radiotherapy to the brain. This called somnolence syndrome.
The radiation will pass out of your body through your urine within days. Until that time, you will give off radiation in your sweat, your saliva, your urine, and anything else that comes out of your body. It is important to avoid exposing other people to the radioactivity from your body.
Most people getting radiation therapy feel fatigued. It does not mean that your cancer is getting worse. It does not mean that the treatment is not working. In fact, it is normal to feel very tired during this time.
Physically you will not be groggy or unable to function. Unless physically ill or mentally exhausted, most patients are able to drive themselves home after their appointments. How often will I see the doctor or nurse? You will be scheduled for weekly physician/nurse visits throughout the course of your treatment.
Loss of appetite
Feeling sick and tired during radiotherapy can make you lose your appetite, which could lead to weight loss. But it's important to try to eat healthily and maintain your weight during treatment. Tell your care team if you do not feel you're eating enough.
Breast cancer: Women with breast cancer have an overall 30% chance of recurrence. Many cases happen within five years of completing the initial treatment. Cervical cancer: Of those with invasive cervical cancer, an estimated 35% will have a recurrence.