Patients who receive internal radiation implants must follow precautions.
Patients with cancer can be treated with radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy can be administered externally or internally, but regardless, precautions must be taken when a patient is given internal radioactive implants.
Room Allocation
Patients who are to receive internal radiation implants are assigned to a private room with their own bathroom. This is done to reduce the risk of exposing other patients, visitors and staff to radiation from the patient's implants.
Restrictions
Children younger than 16 years of age and pregnant women are not allowed to visit patients who receive internal radiation implants in order to prevent birth defects in fetuses and cellular damage in growing children.
Time Frame
Medical staff members caring for a patient with internal radiation implants, as well as the patient's visitors, are encouraged to spend as little time as possible with the individual. This is done to limit the length of time they are exposed to the radioactive implant.
Distance
The closer a person is to radioactive material, the greater the chance she will be affected by radiation. Consequently, medical staff and visitors are advised not to stay too close to a patient with internal radiation implants.
Dosimeter
All medical staff caring for a patient with radioactive implants must wear a radioactive badge or dosimeter on their clothing before entering the patient's room. The badge monitors how much radiation these individuals are exposed to in order to prevent overexposure.
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