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Article Series: Cancer
Help Me Understand Cancer
Cancer
Therapies: X-Rays, Radiation, Mammograms, & CT Scans
As with chemotherapy, certain forms of medical
radiation can lead to an increased risk of cancer. The benefits
of using these types of medical radiation, however, generally
far outweigh the risks associated with them.
Radiation
Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy ionizing
radiation to destroy cancer cells and treat or control cancer.
Radiation therapy's cancer-causing potential was recognized
many years ago. In fact, much of our knowledge about ionizing
radiation has come from studying the survivors of the atomic
bombs and their radiation in Japan, from workers' occupational
exposure to radiation, and from patients treated with radiation
therapy for malignant and nonmalignant disease. Despite being
relatively rare, the development of a second cancer is more
common among those who receive radiation therapy than those
who do not. It's a fine balance. You have to weigh the risk against the
medical benefit. If you have a cancer and you're going to be
treated with radiation, you should be concerned about the risk
of developing a second cancer, but not to the extent that you
turn down possible treatment. On the other hand, you should
certainly discuss the treatment options fully with your doctor.
Most cases of leukemia related to radiation exposure develop
within a few years of exposure, peaking at five to nine years
then slowly declining. Most other forms of cancer do not occur
until ten years after radiation exposure, and some cancers
are diagnosed even fifteen or more years later. Radiation-related
leukemia risk depends on a number of factors, such as the amount
of radiation received, the percentage of bone marrow exposed
to radiation, and whether the patient was also treated with
chemotherapy.
Studies of radiation-related breast cancer have found the
greatest risk in women who were irradiated as children and
adolescents for other conditions. (The most common reason for
adolescents to have chest radiation is Hodgkin's disease, a
type of lymphoma.) Oncologists (doctors specializing in cancer
treatment) know about the increased risk of breast cancer in
these women and generally recommend that they have vigilant
lifetime screening for breast cancer. However, most studies
of individuals with Hodgkin's disease have found no increased
breast cancer risk among women who receive radiation at 30
years and older.
X-rays and Mammography
Many
people are concerned about their exposure to x-rays. X-rays
(including mammograms, x-rays
of the breast) use doses of radiation that are many times
lower than those used in radiation therapy. As with radiation
therapy, studies in the past have shown that there appears
to be some risk in receiving many x-ray examinations, particularly
for children who have multiple x-rays. The level of radiation
in modern x-rays is much lower than that used even 25 years
ago and poses much less of a risk. While it's a good idea
to minimize repeat exposures whenever possible, especially
in children, it's important not to avoid necessary x-rays.
CT
Scans
Computed
tomography (CT) scans use larger doses of radiation than
those found in conventional x-rays. Again,
concern has been raised over the possibility of an increased
cancer risk in children who receive multiple CT scans. Ways
to lower radiation doses without compromising medical value
are encouraged. Another potential source of exposure to radiation are whole-body
CT scans, which some people are now requesting as part of a
regular health checkup as a way to screen for cancer and other
diseases. Many groups, including the PDA, have expressed concern
over this practice because there is little evidence of its
usefulness, and it exposes people to unnecessary radiation.
Sometimes CT scans are available in shopping malls. They are
advertising for healthy people to come in and get whole-body
scans. This is unnecessary and inappropriate.
However, whole-body CT scans do have their place. They can
save the lives of accident victims who need quick evaluation
to determine if they have a ruptured spleen or punctured lung.
They are also effective in diagnosing some chronic conditions. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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