Ct scan radiation worries

  • Thread starter Thread starter paul_hest
  • Start date Start date
P

paul_hest

Guest
Hi all,

I have a particular worry and hoped you could provide some rational advice as doctors/radiologists/experts/fellow worriers, and it will stop me scouring the internet for all sorts of answers.

I had a CT scan of my head done in 2006 (when I was 31), and another in 2009 (when I was 35) - both were needless in hinRABight. Late last year, some reports came out about the risk of radiation-induced cancer being higher than originally thought. This, of course, has set off a fixation chain of events in my mind, and at times I'm convinced that I've done myself irreparable damage and am doomed to have a horrible cancer as a result.

Anyway, could you possibly give me an idea of the dose of radiation I would've received and an idea of the *actual* risk?

I'm just after some peace of mind.

Thanks,

Paul
 
This fact may help your worry. Usage of CT has increased dramatically over the last two decades in many countries. An estimated 72 million scans were performed in the United States in 2007. It is estimated that 0.4% of current cancers in the United States are due to CTs performed in the past and that this may increase to as high as 1.5-2% with 2007 rates of CT usage.

An update on this is out of the 72 millions scans to date, 29,000 people developed cancer from it Worldwide. Your highest risk will come between the age of 45-54.

These tests must be done to see what is going on. You have a higher risk of getting cancer from breathing in air than you do in a ct scan. Don't let something like this sit in your mind. If you had ct scans weekly then you would be a higher risk but if you only had 2 thats nothing to worry about.
 
I agree. 2 CT scans in a lifetime, both after age 30, do NOT significantly increase your lifetime risk of cancer.

Guess you're just going to have to find something else to worry about, as my grandmother would say.
 
Radiation therapy is used to treat malignant tumors, and may act as primary or secondary way. It is also common radiotherapy corabined with surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy or some mixture of IV. The most common type of cancer can be treated with radiotherapy in some ways. Precise treatment intent (therapeutic, supplementary, support, treatment or palliative) will depend on the tumor type, location and stage, and the general health of patients.
 
Back
Top