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What Is The Risk Of Cancer From Radiation?

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Posted on Fri, 3 Jul 2015
Question: hello, recently I received a cat scan of my chest, abdomen and pelvis. and also a barium swallow how much of a increase in cancer will this radiation cause??
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The risk of cancer from radiation is very low

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for choosing HCM to post your question.

I understand you concern very well. Every time a doctor recommends a patient to perform a examination that has health risks, he/she always should weight the benefits and the risks that it has. I hope that the exams that you have done, have ruled out important concerns.

Let me give some information about your question.
The effective doses from diagnostic CT procedures is not much less than the lowest doses received by some of the Japanese survivors of the atomic bombs. These survivors, who are estimated to have experienced doses only slightly larger than those encountered in CT, have demonstrated a SMALL but increased radiation-related excess relative risk for cancer mortality.

Though, radiation dose from CT procedures varies from patient to patient. A particular radiation dose will depend on the size of the body part examined, the type of procedure, and the type of CT equipment and its operation.
The actual dose from a procedure could be two or three times larger or smaller than the estimates.
The dose of the radiation may be adjusted with aim to reducing it, but it can also have an adverse impact on the image quality produced.

So, I can not give you a number for your specific radiation, because as mentioned above it will vary on many factors. A CT examination with an average effective radiation dose may be associated with an increase in the possibility of cancer of approximately 1 chance in 2000. This increase in the possibility of a cancer from radiation can be compared to the natural incidence of cancer.
In other words, for any one person the risk of radiation-induced cancer is much smaller than the natural risk of cancer. So, I would not worry about it.

Hope this is helpful.
If you have other questions, or need more clarifications, please let me know. I would be happy to answer.

Take care,
Dr. Klarida
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (53 minutes later)
Ok, we'll my doctor told me that I recieved about 20 msv in the last 11 months from all the scans I had done. I have been in tears thinking that I will get cancer from this exposure. I am only 27 so I have a whole life ahed of me still so that freighters me about getting cancer. I hope the radiation will have no effect on me whatsoever.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Some general advises for you

Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear,

Wish you all the best in your life.
As you may see, the risk of cancer is much, much lower than that of having a car accident, of having problems of sexually transmitted diseases or drug abuse.

So, take care of having a healthy diet and life, use protection and be careful while enjoying your life, wear always your seat belt.

Hope i have reassured you.
If you don't have other questions, please kindly close and rate the question.

Regards,
Dr. Klarida
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (1 hour later)
So my risk of cancer due to the radiation is very low?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You have a risk for cancer almost as every other person.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,

Yes, your risk for cancer due to radiation is almost as the percentage of other other people for having cancer.

Anyway, this is not a reason of doing unrecommended exams. Discuss with your doctor your concerns, and he/she will tell you which is the best exam to do, considering every benefit and side effect.

Take care,
Dr. Klarida


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (1 hour later)
Ok, I'm just really worried about getting cancer from these tests. I know radiation is not good and I have been searching the Internet for information, some say it will cause cancer and others say it won't slim confused. All I know is that I did have a lot of radiation exposure and I am super worried from it.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Don't worry about it, because it may cause you more problems

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Yes the information online is very confusing.

Lets put it like this: When a doctor/technician performs an exam that has radiation, part of it goes into his/her body also, even if they wear some protection. Imagine that to be accumulated in their body for year and for thousands of exams that they have to do to patients.

Of course in their case, the risk for cancer is higher, but if it was that high, they all would die from cancers.

It is true that in your case the radiation is not low, and that of course leads to a higher possibility for cancer, but overall that possibility is not that high comparing to the people who have had no radiation at all.

Stressing about it won't help you. In the contrary it may cause ulcer or anxiety problems...and you won't help your current situation but make it even worse.

So again, my main recommendation would be:
Whats gone can't change.
Try to limit your radiation only when you will need it, because you are very young and will have maybe need for any of them in the future.
Have a healthy life, because as I mentioned before the risk of having other diseases is much higher from them then having a cancer.

For any other question, feel free to ask.

Regards,
Dr. Klarida



Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Klarida Papaqako

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1803 Questions

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What Is The Risk Of Cancer From Radiation?

Brief Answer: The risk of cancer from radiation is very low Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for choosing HCM to post your question. I understand you concern very well. Every time a doctor recommends a patient to perform a examination that has health risks, he/she always should weight the benefits and the risks that it has. I hope that the exams that you have done, have ruled out important concerns. Let me give some information about your question. The effective doses from diagnostic CT procedures is not much less than the lowest doses received by some of the Japanese survivors of the atomic bombs. These survivors, who are estimated to have experienced doses only slightly larger than those encountered in CT, have demonstrated a SMALL but increased radiation-related excess relative risk for cancer mortality. Though, radiation dose from CT procedures varies from patient to patient. A particular radiation dose will depend on the size of the body part examined, the type of procedure, and the type of CT equipment and its operation. The actual dose from a procedure could be two or three times larger or smaller than the estimates. The dose of the radiation may be adjusted with aim to reducing it, but it can also have an adverse impact on the image quality produced. So, I can not give you a number for your specific radiation, because as mentioned above it will vary on many factors. A CT examination with an average effective radiation dose may be associated with an increase in the possibility of cancer of approximately 1 chance in 2000. This increase in the possibility of a cancer from radiation can be compared to the natural incidence of cancer. In other words, for any one person the risk of radiation-induced cancer is much smaller than the natural risk of cancer. So, I would not worry about it. Hope this is helpful. If you have other questions, or need more clarifications, please let me know. I would be happy to answer. Take care, Dr. Klarida