Worrying about cancer from CT scans and X rays?

[nomorepanic]

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your post was moved from its original place to a sub-forum that is more relevant to your issue.

This is nothing personal - it just enables us to keep posts about the same problems in the relevant forums so other members with any experience with the issues can find them more easily.

[Fishmanpa]

Should I be worried and concerned that these tests will give me cancer like leukemia or lymphoma in the future?

NO... unequivocally NO! Search my replies on the subject.

Positive thoughts

[unsure_about_this]

Hi

I have had a few scans during my lifetime, so due to my health condition NF, so had five brian scans, one of the specialist wanted to do a MRI scan of my spine as I have a curve back. I have had one CT scan for abdominal, one MRI for abdominal as I had bad abdominal pains as I thought it was bowel cancer, all it turned out was something common which i could have had it there since birth.

[Toaster]

Those tests do deliver radiation to your body. ALOT of them over a time period can have adverse effects. I imagine the amount you've had would not be of any concern. I'm 27 and have had more than you. Xrays give you very little radiation. CT scans give you more, but you didn't have a full body. Only abdominal.

Doctors typically take into account your past tests, and if there was any concern they would use a different imaging technique.

[Ryank65]

I read this article this morning and got my heath anxiety flared up again. http://reliawire.com/childhood-ct-scans-cancer-risks/

I'm worried cause I've had an abdominal CT scan when I was 21 almost 2 years ago and had about 3-4 abdominal X-rays as well. I'm worried that the Ct scans going to give me lukekemia or some solid cancer down the road. I have done a lot of research and this topic is always being debated since no one has really proved CT scans as dangerous or not dangerous. Does anyone have any knowledge of what my odds are or if having one CT scan that I should be concerned about?

[Elen]

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your thread was merged with another of your threads

It is nothing personal it is just to make it easier for people to follow your story and to give you advice as a whole.

Elen

[Ryank65]

Im 23 year old male, I had an abdominal CT scan exactly 2 years and 4 months ago. Im still having bad anxiety that one of these days I'm going to be that 1 in 2,000 people who end up getting a malignant cancer from these tests. Ive also had 2 abdominal x-rays within past 2 years.

I've read numerous articles about how bad CT scans and X-rays are because of the radiation and the disruption it causes a cellular level. And that these scans are more harmful the younger you are. I've read that I have not only increased my risk of a bad cancer like leukemia (my worst fear) but that I also have increased my risk for a cancer to develop in one of my main organs that was in the scan.

I'm constantly worried that I will get a bad cancer and it causes me constant anxiety and I try hard to keep my mind off it. I'm just so scared of the future and that I'll be one of the unlucky ones.

Are CT scans really as bad as they say? And has anyone ever had one at a young age and have no problems till this day?

[swajj]

I think if you need to worry then myself and hundreds of others here should be petrified because some of us have had a lot of scans. Stop worrying about it.

[Fishmanpa]

Just during my treatment alone, I had enough radiation to burn the skin off my neck and turn my throat into a raw quivering mess rendering me unable to eat. Add to that a CT scan before each treatment (30 total - 5 days a week for 6 weeks) to aim the radiation. That's not counting all the x-rays, barium swallow tests, CT and PET scans prior and after or all the scans/tests since I was a teen.

There's no documented case that puts any of these tests as the prime cause for anyone's cancer. You won't find one.

Positive thoughts

[O_O]

1 in 2000? Is that for real?? I'm surprised they do CT scans on anyone if they pose a 1 in 2000 risk of giving you cancer.

I heard that you're exposed to more ionising radiation just taking a commercial flight, but I don't know if that's true or not.