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