Internal radiotherapy

Radiation therapy, alone or in combination with chemotherapy and surgery, is used in the treatment of cancer.
It consists of irradiating in order to destroy cancer cells with high-energy x-rays or proton beams (ASCO 2016).
It can be external or via external beam, when it is administered from a device which is external to the body, or internal or brachytherapy, when radioactive material is introduced into the body, into the tumor or surrounding tissue.

This entry refers to INTERNAL RADIOTHERAPY or brachytherapy. Here, the radiation is inside the body; the patient emits radiation from the device inserted or administered internally (ASCO 2016), so it should not be in close contact (less than 2 metres) or have contact for more than 5 minutes with children or pregnant women for 2 months after the implantation if it is a permanent implant or from a few minutes to a few days (consult the radiotherapist) in the case of temporary internal radiotherapy (ASCO 2016).

These measures result in the the direct postponement of breastfeeding (it may be feasible via expressing and administration by another person) or prevent it if the necessary interruption time is excessive.

If the mother decides to continue breastfeeding after an interruption, during the interruption milk must be expressed (to maintain production). This milk, which is not radioactive, can be administered to the infant by someone other than the mother and/or frozen if left over.

Alternatives

• External Radiotherapy (Very Low Risk)