Is radiotherapy safe?

Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, uses high-energy ionising radiation to safely treat cancer.

Ionising radiation is produced naturally in soil, water and vegetation, and in man-made devices such as x-rays. There are three different ways a person may be exposed to radiation:

1. A planned event, where radiation is delivered deliberately with a specific purpose. This includes radiotherapy treatment, where the radiation dose has been carefully planned by a medical professional to safely and accurately meet your needs

2. Existing exposures, such as exposure to natural sources of radiation or radiation in a workplace

3. Emergency exposure situations, resulting from unexpected events including nuclear accidents or malicious acts

Does radiotherapy make you radioactive?

Radiotherapy does not make you radioactive. External radiation beam therapy delivers high energy x-rays to a specific area of the body, which means the radiation doesn’t stay in your body before or after treatment. It’s completely safe for you to be around other people, including children and pregnant women.

Should you receive permanent brachytherapy, where a radioactive source is placed beside or inside your tumour, you may be slightly radioactive for a short time. The risk to your loved ones is very low, however you may need to avoid prolonged contact with young children and pregnant women during this period. This is because children and fetuses are more sensitive to radiation exposure than adults.

The content on the Icon Cancer Centre website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. For personalised medical guidance, please consult with your GP or another qualified healthcare provider.