Kids exposure to treatment

Daddio

My ex-wife was recently diagnosed with Stage-III IBC. She has started chemo, will do surgery sometime this summer followed by radiation. I've read several threads on this forum only to realize how much I don't know about what is going on with her or what her medical state is. I've made extensive offers to help her with very little response and am still very much kept in the dark on. One of my biggest concerns is our children, ages 3 and 5. We have told them that mommy is sick and some of the changes they can expect to see in the coming months. One of the many things that I don't know is about my kids being exposed to the treatment, primarily the radiation portion of the treatment. What are the risks of being around her during this time? Can they be around her at all during this time?

Lauriesh

I have never heard of any problems of kids being around someone going through chemo or rads. My kids were 2, 5 & 7 when I first went though treatment, and no drs ever said there were concerns with me being around them.

In fact, some days my 2 year old came with me to my rad and chemo treatments .





Laurie

exbrnxgrl

I have never heard of any risks to children via a parents chemo/rads treatments.

leggo

Actually, it's the other way around. The risk is your ex-wife's. Being around kids who drag every germ in the world home could be detrimental to her when her immune system is low from chemo and radiation. It would be a very good idea to get everyone to wash their hands a little more frequently to keep her healthy during this time.

Moderators

This issue is addressed in a section on the main breastcancer.org site called Myths about Radiation Therapy. 

We hope this helps.

The Mods

MiniMacsMom

I was told not to share a toilet with anyone for a a few days after chemo sessions. mostly the adriamyiacin ones. and to not share any kind of drink or food during those as some of the chemicals can be excreted in body fluids. its just for a few days. once chemo was flushed i was told all was ok. kissing my son and skin to skin contact was fine. just my experience and recs from my docs. sorry i hate typing on te tsblet.

Rose_d

I got the same guidance on adriamycin - to flush the toilet twice after going for a couple of days. I tried to pee only in my bathroom and had the kids go elsewhere. No restrictions on any of the other chemo drugs or during radiation. I seem to recall being told not to hug them closely for 24 hours after either the PET scan or MRI during diagnosis.