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Pregnancy

Fiance having chemo....advise?!

11 replies

Laura32 · 27/05/2011 19:09

My lovely fiance is having chemo on the day of my 1st scan (12 weeks)..I cant be near him for 24 hours as he will be RADIOACTIVE!!!! scary. Any advise or expereinces please?
x

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Chipotle · 27/05/2011 19:15

Chemotherapy will not make your fiancé radioactive. It's a very harsh chemical but in absolutely no way radioactive.

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Laura32 · 27/05/2011 19:18

ok, slight over reaction, he wont be glowing in the dark ha! But he will be quarantined as its harmful to be near preggy ladies... :(

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Chipotle · 27/05/2011 19:18

Speak to his Clinician... I think you can have contact but no sharing of bodily fluids (don't share a drink, no kissing etc...).
But please do not have any worries regarding radioactivity.

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CuppaTeaJanice · 27/05/2011 19:23

You can actually have chemo while pregnant without harming the baby (although they change the chemical mix a bit). So I can't see why he would be radioactive. Confused

He may be very tired a few days afterwards (usually ok the day after but kicks in after a couple of days). Could you change your scan date to before his chemo session? I'm sure your sonographer would do everything they could to accommodate your needs in the circumstances.

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eurochick · 27/05/2011 20:08

My mum had a nuclear medicine scan recently and was told not to go near children or pregnant women for the rest of the day. She had to keep moving around the train carriage home!

So no direct experience, but I hope all is well. There are lots of different chemo drugs so someone else's experience might not be good for you to follow. I would try changing the scan date in your position.

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suzikettles · 27/05/2011 20:11

Is it a thyroid thing? I know my friend had to stay away from people for a while when she had radioactive iodine therapy.

Chemotherapy isn't always cancer drugs.

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Chipotle · 27/05/2011 21:43

Just to clarify... Chemotherapy does not have radioisotopes in it and therefore is NOT radioactive. Nuclear medicine scans and therapeutic radioiodine do and there are some precautions that must be taken in the presence of children or pregnant women.
Chemotherapy is a whole different kettle of fish and your fiancé's Clinician will make you aware of any precautions necessary not a load of Mumsnetters who are guessing, there are some precautions but...
Seriously... get the appropriate medical advice from the appropriate people.

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fallingandlaughing · 28/05/2011 10:28

Hi Laura.
I know people are debating the accuracy of the terms you are using Confused but I guess the important thing is that you and your fiance can't have contact for 24hrs, he isn't well and you are having your scan.

Sorry you are having to worry about all this. Is there a way to maintain contact? Could you get on skype and show him the scan photos? Text him a copy of the photos? Have you asked if you could get the scan moved to another day, given the circumstances? If not it would be a good idea to get a friend or relative to go with you instead.

If it is any compensation, seeing the baby on the scan wasn't a huge moment for me and my DP. It didn't feel like we were really seeing our baby for the first time. Hearing the heartbeat on the doppler and feeling movements (both of which your fiance can do when the time comes) was more special.

Good luck with it all.

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AllyZ · 30/05/2011 18:12

Maybe you can drop the picture off to one of the nurses in the oncology ward and she can bring it to him? Or just take a picture of it and text him. Can even film a little video on your phone of the baby moving and send him too.

Of course it would be great if you can change the scan date, usually they are pretty good when you have a reason like yours. If you can afford it you could also book a private scan a few days after when he can come with you, that way you can both see the baby!

And annoying that everyone is discussing the accuracy of the terms instead of helping out with tips and support. My friend had chemo all day, then popped down to radio for 15 mins during the day. Maybe thats the case here but do you really need someone to write all those details? main thing is they cant see eachother for 24 hours!

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magicmelons · 30/05/2011 18:27

They can change the date of the scan for you, i changed mine last week. They were very helpful.

I hope your fiance is ok.

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KatyN · 30/05/2011 18:45

I changed the date for both of my scans.. just because it as inconvenient.. I'm sure you can change yours if you want him there. (and if it's your first.. it was TOTALLY magical both of us being there)

My friend had this with her husband when she as expecting. kinda sucky I would imagine as you both want to support the other one.

good luck,
katy

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