Chemo/ radiation question

laujam31

A friend who is a nurse told me that I should not be around my MIL while she is undergoing chemo or radiation.  I didn't think this was an issue.  I asked my sil (she a has a 2 week old) if she had heard the same and she said her daughter would be no where near our mil while shes having treatments and that I should think twice about letting my 2 and 3 year old around her as well.  Anyone have any experience with this?

ceclarlinetlo

I'm not sure why being around your MIL after a treatment would be dangerous for your kids - I think there is an oncology nurse on our board but I can't remember who and she might be able to answer more of the risk to your kids - but for your MIL her immune system is going to be severely depressed and at high risk of catching things from your little ones especially as we go into flu season. 

KarliQ88

It depends on the type of radiation. Like if she had radiation seeds there is certain distance (can't remember. I'm not a chemo nurse. Sorry). As for chemo...as long as you are not handling her bodily fluids like urine or anything you should be fine. Even in my job as a nurse if someone is on chemo or radiation we have precautions we take but they do they say "no pregnant women" i just don't and won't handle their bodily fluids. Radiation seeds are a different story though. Don't handle her urine and it should be ok ;-)

ThePax89

My uncle was going through radiation during my first pregnancy, I was still around him. Purely anecdotal. I was careful to hand wash, etc, just because of the extra germs in hospitals. Call your ob

laujam31

Thanks ladies.  That's pretty much everything I thought.  I did some reading and supposedly there is internal and external radiation.  Depending on which type she undergoes it may be better if she weren't near the kids.  But I think we are a bigger risk to her than the other way around.  

cjs260

@laujam31 I don't know what type of radiation your mom will undergo, but when my mom had to have radiation that was given to her in injections/pill form, she wasn't allowed to be around pregnant women, small children, and animals per her doctor's orders. Have your mom ask her doctor to be sure. 

Teach123

There were times my FIL had treatments that his doctor would tell him not to be around my son (2 at the time) for maybe a couple of days, but it was always a very short-term thing. 

LeahNicole

If a person has internal radiation seeds, like for cervical cancer, time around that person should be limited and I belive about a 6 foot distance should be kept. The internal seeds are active and can be pretty dangerous. I'm also not an oncology nurse, but an ICU nurse. When I have a patient in my unit with chemo or radiation they are careful not to put me or other pregnant woman with that patient for the day. I would say that it's worth asking. Her immune system is definitely down, but there is likely risk for you and your little ones, they may just tell you to limit your time. 

gapeachrn

I'm a chemo nurse.
As far as chemo, as long as you don't handle bodily fluid or chemo pills (without gloves) you are fine. I haven't been hanging chemo drugs since I found out I was pregnant, but that is really just an extra precaution that I take. 
I hug my patients, shake their hands, start IVs on them and some even give me a kiss on the cheek. The risk you take of being exposed to chemo decreases several days after treatment. In my eyes, I'm more likely to get flu or a food borne illness before I experience any negative side effects of secondary chemo exposure. 
External radiation (think lung, breast or brain cancer) is fine as well. I have daily contact with them as well. But things like radiation seeds that are placed because of prostate or thyroid cancer are a different story. These come with extra precautions that they have to take with EVERYONE around them. 
I hope this helps. Just don't touch any urine, stool or vomit and you are in the clear!

laujam31

@gapeachrn
 Thanks so much!  I called my drs before i saw this and the kids pediatrician said they were fine but my dr said to avoid physical contact.  Any idea why she would have said that?

Carly79

When I was pregnant with DS, my FIL was undergoing radiation treatment. I did some research and ultimately asked my doctor as well as having my MIL ask his doctor about the details. Depending on the type of radiation there can be some shedding and you wouldn't want to hug the person. We ended up being fine based on the type of treatment but I felt better with info from my doctor and his doctor.

I find Doctors are very risk averse when it comes to pregnancy because testing certain situations on pregnant women opens up a whole bag of ethical/moral issues so there just isn't a lot of research out there. Your doctor may be being cautious not knowing all the details.

gapeachrn

@laujam31 I think they are being overly cautious. Radiation seeds/implants cause the biggest concerns. 

I had 2 previous losses (as a recovery room nurse) and my doctors are okay with job as an oncology nurse. I can give chemotherapy drugs, if I take the necessary precautions. I'm just fortunate enough to not have to. 

spano41

My brother was conceived while my dad was on chemo and radiation and he's fine.  Obviously the chemo wasn't working very well though.  They named him after the doctor who told them they wouldn't be able to have any more kids.