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24 May 2012

Answer to Question #4365 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Proximity to radioactive persons

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Is it safe for me to be around a person who is undergoing daily radiation treatment for breast cancer if I am pregnant? Also, is it safe for the person undergoing daily radiation to hold my newborn baby?

Radiation therapy is delivered by two methods:

External beam radiation, which uses an x-ray machine called a linear accelerator. The beam is aimed carefully at the tumor. Radiation exists only while the machine is on. There is no residual radiation in the patient (or anywhere else) after the machine is turned off.
Radioactive material implanted within the tumor. This delivers constant radiation until it is removed or it decays to zero.

Daily radiation almost always uses the external beam treatment. This is most likely the case for your friend. If so, there is no risk to you or your baby from contact with or close proximity to the patient between treatments.

S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD

Answer posted on 14 March 2005. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.