Caring for radiation patients while pregnant?

[bluesky1014]

I am a nurse and at times have to care for patients that receive radiation for cancer. There is so much conflicting information on this topic. Does anyone know for sure if this is OK!? I'm do upset and confused.

[OctoberMommy2014]

I'm an x-ray tech. (debating on ultrasound or radiation therapy as my next step, aside from nursing..) & from what I know.. a lot of people have various opinions based on whether or not the radiation is "dangerous" based on whether treatment is external or internal.

external is usually considered 100% safe, they're not "radioactive" so to speak once they're done with the treatment.

internal (such as the use of iodine or something) mainly only gets out of their body through urine.. other ways are saliva, sweat, stool, but the most common is urine. they're usually given special instructions to follow to help reduce radiation exposure to close family/friends, but it's nothing significant to cause harm to anyone.

radiation isn't what "kills" cancer patients, it's the medication. my brother passed away from cancer, and it hurt having to hear that the meds he was given to "help" him, hurt him. radiation is minimal compared to other dangers we face every day. radiation doesn't harm the patient, nor will it harm you. a chest x-ray is equivalent to you laying in the sun for 30 min. or so.. if that makes any sense.

I would say you are 100% okay, but of course you should still bring your concerns up to your OB just to make yourself feel better! ((:

[bluesky1014]

The nurses in the cancer center at my facility say that it is not an issue or none of them could work while pregnant considering mostly all of their patients are receiving chemo or radiation. I just wish I had a definite answer.

[bluesky1014]

Thanks all. I contacted the midwife that works with my Dr and she says I should be fine just to tell my Dr at my next appointment about my concerns. But it is still bothering me.

[Rohda87]

If you are pregnant, then you most certainly should not be around Pts that are relieving radiation, or Pts that have received radiation recently. Their bodies emit radiation and such through their skin and bodily fluids, if I'm not mistaken. You definitely should not risk it.

[smcdsmcd]

Your hospital will have what is called a radiation safety officer.  It is usually a radiologist and they are in charge of radiation saftey for the hospital.  As who it is and to meet with them asap.  They will know if this puts u at risk and if so recommend any work alterations might need.

[BabyGABsMom]

What type of radiation is it?

[alid32]

I'm a nurse too but in geriatrics, so I don't remember much about it. But if I remember right,  I believe you should not be handling body fluids. I'm also pretty sure you should not be around it because they emit radiation. Maybe they can transfer you to another unit? That would be the safest bet.

[bluesky1014]

We don't have "radiation rooms" or anything to cover up with. I just have patients that have received radiation or chemo recently. Or may still be receiving it. We do not actually give the chemo on our unit.

[3rdtime_mum]

^^^ I agree with you at the hospital I worked at they would never assign pregnant nurses to those rooms either.  Have you told them you are pregnant?

[abglm]

I used to work at a hospital and they never allowed housekeepers or nurses that were pregnant to be assigned to those rooms for safety purposes.

[3rdtime_mum]

We are surrounded around radiation daily,  but yes too much radiation is not good. Do you cover up in the radiation room?