University College Hospital
Sealed source radiotherapy
Radiotherapy Department
Patient information series
№48
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Contents
Introduction5
Implications of being a comforter and carer
5
Providing support and care while keeping
your radiation dose to a minimum
6
Any further questions?
7
4
5
Introduction
Your relative/friend is being, or will be, treated with metal rods or pins
which are radioactive. These metals produce radiation in the form of
gamma rays, which are similar to X-rays. To reduce the exposure of
other people to this radiation, your relative/friend is being, or will be,
treated in a specially designed room with restricted visiting times.
However, it is possible for you to provide more support or care than is
normally permitted if you become designated as a comforter and carer.
Implications of being a comforter and carer
There is no legal limit to the amount of radiation dose you are allowed
to receive as a comforter and carer. Consequently you may receive
more radiation dose than is allowed for a member of the public. It is
thought that exposure to even a small amount of radiation may result in
a small increased chance of developing cancer in later years. For
instance, the chance of harm resulting from the radiation dose a normal
member of the public is allowed to receive is 1 in 20,000. This chance
of harm is similar to:
•Smoking 40 cigarettes during a lifetime.
•Driving a car for one year.
•Nine months of normal home life.
The chance that radiation will cause harm increases with the amount
of radiation dose received. We will therefore aim to limit your radiation
dose to no more than five times the public radiation dose limit. This is
about twice the annual radiation dose we each receive from natural
sources of radiation that exist in our normal environment. It is also less
than the radiation dose a member of staff is legally allowed to receive.
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Providing support and care while keeping your radiation
dose to a minimum
You will be provided with a digital radiation monitor and a radiation
protection film badge. A member of staff will explain how it is used and
how to record the radiation dose you receive which will be kept by us
for future reference.
The following rules will help you to reduce the radiation dose you receive.
Time
Always try to minimise the amount of time in contact with your relative
or friend.
Distance
Avoid any prolonged close contact. If you must have close contact,
keep this to as brief a time as possible.
Keep as far away from your relative/friend as is practical. The radiation
dose will be much lower if you keep your distance.
Shielding
Where possible remain behind the mobile shields within the room.
In addition, when you are in the treatment room you must not use
the ensuite toilet, you must not remove any articles from the room,
and you must not eat/drink anything whilst in the room. You must ask
permission from the ward nurse in charge of your relative/friend each
time before you go into the treatment room.
As a comforter and carer it is safe for you to have contact with children
and pregnant or breast feeding women. It is also safe for you to visit
public places (e.g. family and social gatherings, restaurants, pubs/
clubs, theatres, shops, libraries, etc).
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You will be asked to sign an agreement designating you as a comforter
and carer to a patient undergoing sealed source radiotherapy.
Any further questions?
If you have any further questions about your role as a comforter and
carer, or your relative’s/friend’s treatment, please contact:
Radioisotope Radiographer
Caroline Walker
Main switchboard:
0845 155 5000
ext 4286/bleep 1097
Alternative switchboard:
020 3456 7890
ext 4286/bleep 1097
Email:[email protected]
Brachytherapy Radiographer
Eleanor Gill
Direct telephone:
020 3447 3782
Main switchboard:
0845 155 5000
ext 73782/bleep 1128
Alternative switchboard:
020 3456 7890
ext 73711/bleep 1128
Email:[email protected]
Radiotherapy Medical Physics
Main switchboard:
0845 155 5000
bleep 2173
Alternative switchboard:
020 3456 7890/bleep 2173
First published: June 2004
Last review date:
July 2013
Next review date: July 2015
Leaflet code: UCLH/S&C/CD/RT/SEALEDSRC/2
© University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Created by Medical Illustration RNTNEH 020 3456 5103 Unique Code: 28937