Does external beam radiation make you radioactive?

No. External beam radiation therapy will not make you radioactive.

With this treatment, a machine aims radiation at your cancer from outside your body. The radiation does not stay in your body afterward, so you may safely be around other people — even pregnant women, babies, and young children.

This is different from some kinds of internal radiation, such as certain brachytherapy treatments, where a radiation source is placed inside the body for a time.

During an external beam session you also will not feel, hear, see, or smell the radiation. If you have questions about safety around your family, your radiation care team can reassure you and explain the details of your treatment.