Any radiologists on here ? Question about PET scans and radioactivity afterwards

[stressed2007]

I am due to have one of these - apparently I am radioactive after this for 12 hours! One person told me that I should not go anywhere near children or pregnant women during this time, another that I could be near children if I sat the other side of a room to them. What if I go home and then leave before my children get home - have I left the radioactivity behind in the room or is it just "me". Anyone know anything about the risks involved? Thank you

The department that you're going to should be able to give you precise details about what to do and not do. I guess that doesn't help if the conflicting advice comes from them in the first place! You will be radioactive and so will any secretions i.e. sweat and urine etc. The exact limits do depend on what you're given and how much activity. I'm afraid I can't say exactly for a PET scan but my advice would be to phone up and explain you're trying to sort out childcare so you need to know. Hope that helps.

You will be radioactive for a time after the scan, but it will be safe to be in the same room as your children, and OK to give them a quick hug, but you should just avoid being cuddled up on the sofa for a few hours afterwards. You won't leave any radioactivity in the room when you leave it.

You should get a leaflet from the department who are going to scan you with all the details, but this is a good general guide.

If after you get the leaflet from your hospital you are still worried or have questions, ring them and ask to speak to the Medical Physics department, and one of the physicists will be able to help