Prostate cancer brachytherapy: Can I pass radiation to others?

What precautions should I take after prostate cancer brachytherapy? Can I pass harmful radiation to my wife and family? Should I avoid contact with other people?

- Roy / Kansas

Mayo Clinic urologist Erik Castle, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

You may need to take some precautions, but it depends on the type of brachytherapy you receive. Brachytherapy is designed to treat prostate cancer by delivering radiation treatment to only the prostate. This is achieved by implanting radioactive "seeds" containing your treatment inside your prostate gland.

Prostate cancer brachytherapy can be done several different ways. Each way differs in the amount of radiation released by the seed and how long the treatment will last. Your radiotherapist can provide specific and detailed information for you depending on the treatment used. Recommendations during treatment may include:

Avoid sexual intercourse for two to four weeks from the beginning of your treatment.
Spend minimal time near children and pregnant women.
Don't hold or cuddle children for any amount of time.

After your treatment is done, the seeds usually remain in place, and eventually, give off amounts of radiation so small, they are not measurable. For additional precautions, your radiotherapist might recommend:

Using a condom for the first few times you have sexual intercourse after treatment.
Straining your urine for a few weeks to catch any loose seeds.
Examining any bandages or linens that come in contact with the implant site for seeds that may have come out.

Ask your radiotherapist what to do with any seeds you find.

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