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