 Staying safe while getting better, protecting yourself and your loved ones while taking radioactive drugs. You are about to be treated with a radiopharmaceutical, a drug that contains radioactive material. You are not alone. Each year radioactive drugs are administered more than 16 million times in the United States to diagnose and treat a wide variety of diseases, including cancer. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, along with the Food and Drug Administration, develops regulations to ensure these drugs are used safely. You have an important role to play. Before you begin treatment, talk to your health care team so that you understand your treatment and what you should do before, during and after treatment to make this experience safer for you and those around you. These drugs can help you, but they may also make you radioactive for several days or weeks. This does not mean your family, pets and friends will be in danger. There are some simple steps you can take to limit their exposure to radiation. Your health care team will give you specific instructions to follow for a set period of time after your treatment to keep radiation exposure to others as low as possible. Your doctor will consider your personal living situation and your instructions may be tailored specifically for you. Make sure you understand and can follow these instructions. Your doctor's instructions will likely follow three basic principles – distance, time and hygiene. Distance – the farther away you are from others, the less radiation they will receive. You may be advised to avoid public transportation such as buses, trains or airplanes. Avoid close physical contact with your family and pets, including hugging and kissing. Time – the longer people are near you, the more radiation they receive. You may be advised to sleep alone for a period of time or limit long car rides with others. Hygiene – washing your hands often and showering daily reduces the amount of radiation you leave on surfaces around you. You may be advised to use a separate bathroom. Do not cook or prepare food for others. Use a separate set of dishes and silverware and don't share them. Wash your clothes separately from others and separate your trash from the rest of the households. Some of these best practices of radiation protection mean you may be separated from loved ones when you most need their emotional support. But remember, these steps are important to protect the people around you, especially young children. And these steps are temporary. Radioactive drugs can be used effectively and safely. The best way to protect your family and others is to follow your health care team's instructions carefully and consistently. Presented by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. For more information, visit the website www.nrc.gov.