“Cancer ”
Can my 8 month old be around his step mother who is going through chemo and radiation for 6 weeks?
Male
1 Answer
Hello,
You are asking if your 8 month old son can be around his step mother who is undergoing chemo and radiation for six weeks.
There are really two issues here. One is the possible exposure of the child to the radiation and chemotherapy. However the second issue is the possible exposure of the step mother to illnesses that can be transmitted by the child.
The answer to the first question is dependent on the type of radiation and chemotherapy. Under most circumstances the fear of exposure to the child is very very small. So unless the radiation source is implanted cutaneously it is unlikely that treatment would necessarily contraindicate care of the baby by his step mother. However, it is best if you could ask the treating oncologist about precautions that should be taken.
The second question is possible exposure of the patient to illnesses that can be transmitted by the baby. Chemotherapy can sometimes cause decreases in blood counts making the patient more susceptible to infections. If the baby is well and the counts are normal it is unlikely that illnesses can be transmitted to the stepmother. However, this is a legitimate question to ask the medical oncologist about what precautions should be followed.
Good luck.
You are asking if your 8 month old son can be around his step mother who is undergoing chemo and radiation for six weeks.
There are really two issues here. One is the possible exposure of the child to the radiation and chemotherapy. However the second issue is the possible exposure of the step mother to illnesses that can be transmitted by the child.
The answer to the first question is dependent on the type of radiation and chemotherapy. Under most circumstances the fear of exposure to the child is very very small. So unless the radiation source is implanted cutaneously it is unlikely that treatment would necessarily contraindicate care of the baby by his step mother. However, it is best if you could ask the treating oncologist about precautions that should be taken.
The second question is possible exposure of the patient to illnesses that can be transmitted by the baby. Chemotherapy can sometimes cause decreases in blood counts making the patient more susceptible to infections. If the baby is well and the counts are normal it is unlikely that illnesses can be transmitted to the stepmother. However, this is a legitimate question to ask the medical oncologist about what precautions should be followed.
Good luck.
