Ms. Smith is admitted for internal radiation for cancer of the cervix. The nurse knows the client understands the procedure when she makes which of the following remarks the night before the procedure?
A. She says to her husband, “Please bring me a hamburger and french fries tomorrow when you come. I hate hospital food.”
B. “I understand it will be several weeks before all the radiation leaves my body.”
C. “I told my daughter who is pregnant to either come to see me tonight or wait until I go home from the hospital.”
D. “I brought several craft projects to do while the radium is inserted.”
Correct Answer: C. “I told my daughter who is pregnant to either come to see me tonight or wait until I go home from the hospital.”
People who are pregnant should not come in close contact with someone who has internal radiation therapy. The radioactivity could possibly damage the fetus. This statement is not true. The radiation doesn’t travel very far from the treatment area. So it is usually safe to be with other people. However, as a precaution, the client will need to avoid very close contact with children and pregnant women for a time.
Option A: The client will be on a clear liquid or very low residue diet. Hamburgers and french fries are not allowed. Foods to avoid or reduce during radiation therapy include sodium (salt), added sugars, solid (saturated) fats, and an excess of alcohol. Some salt is needed in all diets.
Option B: As soon as the radiation source is removed, the client is no longer contaminated with radioactivity. The radiation stays in the body for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Most people receive radiation therapy for just a few minutes. Sometimes, people receive internal radiation therapy for more time. If so, they stay in a private room to limit other people’s exposure to the radiation.
Option D: Craft projects usually require the client to sit. The client must remain flat with very little head elevation during the time the rods are in place. Treatment planning usually involves positioning the body, making marks on the skin, and taking imaging scans. The radiation therapy team determines whether the client will lie on their back, stomach, or side during treatment.