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