Multiple ct scan radiation before 25 yrs old :(

[elle95]

I went to the doctors again and she ordered to have another head ct scan and probably an abdominal one :( I already had a head ct scan when I was 17. And like three or four spine xrays because of my scoliosis since I was 11. I probably have like 7 msv of radiation and they sayy you can't have more than 25 msv in a lifetime! A head ct has like 3 and an abdominal one like 10 msv! I'm only 22, not even half of 50 years old and I'm terrified!

I can't have mris because they're not affordable to me right now, feel so lost and scared and tired of these situations always worrying my family. They're probably tired of me.

Has anyone here had multiple ct scans at such young age? Thanks in advance for your replies x

[nomorepanic]

Who said you can't have more than 25 in a lifetime?

Do you fly as you get more radiation on a plane to be honest.

[Fishmanpa]

During cancer treatment, I had radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Enough radiation to burn the skin off my neck and turn my throat into a red mushy mess, rendering me unable to swallow. Not to mention before each treatment, I had a CT scan to help aim the radiation.

Bottom line? This is an irrational fear. My question is, why, at your age are you getting all these tests? At least to me, having read your post history, they're unnecessary.

Positive thoughts

[elle95]

Who said you can't have more than 25 in a lifetime?

Do you fly as you get more radiation on a plane to be honest.

Hello Nicola thanks for answering x. No I have never flown I'm scared of flying too.

Well a little bit of google research took to a medical article stating that. I feel a bit stupid for that:wacko:

[ErinKC]

I had 5 abdominal CTs when I ended up in the ER for a necrotic fibroid (benign uteran tumor). Some before surgery and some after. Occasionally a spot of anxiety pops up about the radiation, but I can't unring that bell! There are all kinds of things we're exposed to ever day that can tick up our cancer chances by minute percentages. You can't change the tests you've had, but talk with your doctor to be sure the CTs you get moving forward are absolutely warranted. And, if you're doing them only because of anxiety, stop.

---------- Post added at 15:31 ---------- Previous post was at 15:29 ----------

Oh, and those scans were when I was 27. I'm 35 now.

[elle95]

During cancer treatment, I had radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Enough radiation to burn the skin off my neck and turn my throat into a red mushy mess, rendering me unable to swallow. Not to mention before each treatment, I had a CT scan to help aim the radiation.

Bottom line? This is an irrational fear. My question is, why, at your age are you getting all these tests? At least to me, having read your post history, they're unnecessary.

Positive thoughts

Hi fishmanpa thanks for your answer. Sorry you have to go through all that, hope you continue to stay healthy it might not have been easy but I really like your attitude I know that optimism always helps x

It's because I always get headaches and every year they change pattern or I get a new kind. And I always push my doctor to order these test cause I fear they're missing something out. Right now I feel my head is gonna explode, there's too much pressure and this really weird pain I feel like I'm gonna pass out and I'm scared it's an aneurysm or tumor.

The abdominal ct scan it's because I have bloating and pelvic pain and those are symptoms of ovarian cancer or bowel cancer.

Sorry If I sound too dramatic, I really don't know how to control this, and the fear has already taken over my life. My family don't take me serious anymore :( It's hard cause I can't accept that this is just my anxiety and depression :(

---------- Post added at 17:37 ---------- Previous post was at 17:31 ----------


I had 5 abdominal CTs when I ended up in the ER for a necrotic fibroid (benign uteran tumor). Some before and some after. Occasionally a spot of anxiety pops up about the radiation, but I can't unring that bell! There are all kinds of things we're exposed to ever day that can tick up our cancer chances by minute percentages. You can't change the tests you've had, but talk with your doctor to be sure the CTs you get moving forward are absolutely warranted. And, if you're doing them only because of anxiety, stop.

---------- Post added at 15:31 ---------- Previous post was at 15:29 ----------

Oh, and those scans were when I was 27. I'm 35 now.

Hi Erin, glad it wasn't something bad x I know right and people who had never gotten any ct scans also get cancer. But somehow, I can't stop having this disastrous vision of me getting cancer because my own fault when I never had it in the past and just because my behavior I would hace caused it . It really scares me.

I also fear that when i go for them it will show something serious so I feel trapped in this :(

[ErinKC]

Are you treating your anxiety? This is what your doctor should be dealing with instead of ordering more and more tests. All the symptoms you mention - abdominal and pelvic pain and headaches can be caused by anxiety.

[Shadowhawk]

I went to the doctors again and she ordered to have another head ct scan and probably an abdominal one :( I already had a head ct scan when I was 17. And like three or four spine xrays because of my scoliosis since I was 11. I probably have like 7 msv of radiation and they sayy you can't have more than 25 msv in a lifetime! A head ct has like 3 and an abdominal one like 10 msv! I'm only 22, not even half of 50 years old and I'm terrified!

I can't have mris because they're not affordable to me right now, feel so lost and scared and tired of these situations always worrying my family. They're probably tired of me.

Has anyone here had multiple ct scans at such young age? Thanks in advance for your replies x

So, i am not sure where you got those numbers, but here is a great info-graphic for you with all the numbers you could possibly want to know: https://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/03/radiation.png Some key points - - A chest X-Ray averages at 0.02 mSv - A chest CT scan averages at 5.8 mSv - A worker's YEARLY limit is 50mSv - The lowest one YEAR dose clearly linked to cancer risk (not guaranteed cancer, just a measurable risk) is 100 mSv Aside from all that.. you are treating radiation as if it were a gas tank.. once its full, you are done for good, which is not how it works. Ionizing radiation, *IN LARGE ENOUGH DOSES* can damage cells and DNA structures, which can be a cause of cancer (or simply death in a large enough dose). So long as your DNA has not been damaged (thus replicated into new cells), there will be a point where your body would be.... unaware.. that you have ever encountered additional radiation (again, refer to the chart, and remember we ALL get background dosing, well in excess of total 25mSv by the time we are 10).

[elle95]

Are you treating your anxiety? This is what your doctor should be dealing with instead of ordering more and more tests. All the symptoms you mention - abdominal and pelvic pain and headaches can be caused by anxiety.

I stopped going to the therapist I only went to three sessions maybe because I thought I could sort it on my own since I study psychology but it's not working. Also since I depend on my family, they don't believe in psychology or psychiatrists they say I just need to go to church to get better.

It's me actually who push my doctors to order medical procedures, when one doesn't want to I stop going to them cause I feel no one takes me serious anymore.

I knkw anxiety can cause lots of symptoms but I'm getting too many and that always makes me think the worst

---------- Post added at 18:02 ---------- Previous post was at 17:56 ----------


So, i am not sure where you got those numbers, but here is a great info-graphic for you with all the numbers you could possibly want to know: https://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/03/radiation.png Some key points - - A chest X-Ray averages at 0.02 mSv - A chest CT scan averages at 5.8 mSv - A worker's YEARLY limit is 50mSv - The lowest one YEAR dose clearly linked to cancer risk (not guaranteed cancer, just a measurable risk) is 100 mSv Aside from all that.. you are treating radiation as if it were a gas tank.. once its full, you are done for good, which is not how it works. Ionizing radiation, *IN LARGE ENOUGH DOSES* can damage cells and DNA structures, which can be a cause of cancer (or simply death in a large enough dose). So long as your DNA has not been damaged (thus replicated into new cells), there will be a point where your body would be.... unaware.. that you have ever encountered additional radiation (again, refer to the chart, and remember we ALL get background dosing, well in excess of total 25mSv by the time we are 10).

Hi Shadowhawk thanks x That is way too much physics for me hahaaha. Well if it's 100 msv a year then that calms me a bit. I can't remember the site but it said only one ct scan of the head is three years of radiation for a person who has not had it so that really scared me

[Shadowhawk]

Hi Shadowhawk thanks x That is way too much physics for me hahaaha. Well if it's 100 msv a year then that calms me a bit. I can't remember the site but it said only one ct scan of the head is three years of radiation for a person who has not had it so that really scared me
Eh, forget the physics (actually, its more biology since its DNA, but ill go with it. ;)), and look at the numbers (with sources cited if you care to check). A chest CT is averaged at 5.8, and normal background for a year at 3.6. So a more powerful chest CT is not even 2 years worth, let alone the head CT. Of course, you would have to have almost 10 of them to reach your industrial yearly limit, and it doesn't sound like you have hit that in your life.

Think positive, and stop stressing. :bighug1:

[pulisa]

Your doctor shouldn't be enabling your HA, elle. Only have the CT scans if your doctor considers that there is a clinical need. You are not being helped by doctors ordering CT scans which expose you to unnecessary radiation just to appease you and your health anxiety. It's very poor practice.

[KK77]

Your doctor shouldn't be enabling your HA, elle. Only have the CT scans if your doctor considers that there is a clinical need. You are not being helped by doctors ordering CT scans which expose you to unnecessary radiation just to appease you and your health anxiety. It's very poor practice.

I suspect many doctors refer patients for scan etc just to appease their anxiety and distress. Difficult position to be in as the "What if...?"s must rub off and be in the doctors' minds too.

[elle95]

Eh, forget the physics (actually, its more biology since its DNA, but ill go with it. ;)), and look at the numbers (with sources cited if you care to check). A chest CT is averaged at 5.8, and normal background for a year at 3.6. So a more powerful chest CT is not even 2 years worth, let alone the head CT. Of course, you would have to have almost 10 of them to reach your industrial yearly limit, and it doesn't sound like you have hit that in your life.

Think positive, and stop stressing. :bighug1:

Haha and I thought I was good at biology lol. I'm trying to calm these nerves really I'm the queen of pessimists. I have no other option since my last ct scan was 5 yrs ago so maybe it isn't that bad :/

Thanks so much for your answers, really helped me x :bighug1:

---------- Post added at 20:29 ---------- Previous post was at 20:26 ----------


Your doctor shouldn't be enabling your HA, elle. Only have the CT scans if your doctor considers that there is a clinical need. You are not being helped by doctors ordering CT scans which expose you to unnecessary radiation just to appease you and your health anxiety. It's very poor practice.

Hi Pulisa, well I understand but it's because I change doctors everytime, most of them think that everything is due stress and prescribe me benzos since I have a mental issue they dimiss me inmediately when I'm paying them:lac:

---------- Post added at 20:33 ---------- Previous post was at 20:29 ----------


I suspect many doctors refer patients for scan etc just to appease their anxiety and distress. Difficult position to be in as the "What if...?"s must rub off and be in the doctors' minds too.

True! When I had my first ct scan she said she thought I didn't have anything in my brain although to rule out anything, she wanted to make sure of it by ordering it. That was a very responsable doctor. Like I don't go to their offices just to be told I have anxiety and be put on benzos

[AMomentofClarity]

Like I don't go to their offices just to be told I have anxiety

Ummm, but that’s exactly what you have. Would you rather be treated for illnesses that don’t exist?

[elle95]

Ummm, but that’s exactly what you have. Would you rather be treated for illnesses that don’t exist?

Well of course I don't :( It might seem like I want to be diagnosed with something or be sick like one of my doctors had said to me but of course I don't, it's just the fact that I move on from something and then a new symptom appears and I used to get really trivial discomfort (although I didn't think it was ) but the symptoms worsen and get worse and worse and I still can't believe anxiety could be so harmful to cause me this

[AMomentofClarity]

I wasn’t saying that you want to be diagnosed with something. Just that doctors clearly see your anxiety (I mean you are using an anxiety website after all). Treating what you obviously have will get you a lot further than pursuing tests for things you don’t.

[elle95]

I wasn’t saying that you want to be diagnosed with something. Just that doctors clearly see your anxiety (I mean you are using an anxiety website after all). Treating what you obviously have will get you a lot further than pursuing tests for things you don’t.

Oh no sorry hunni I meant that it was my doctors who think I want to be diagnosed with something.

I'm trying to accept it is anxiety, it's just that the symptoms are getting severe but I really have a very stressful life with my family and since I haven't gotten back to college yet it is worse. When I tell my family I need a psychiatrist to get well they just tell me to go to church and I'm not into any religion. So I have to wait for my health insurance and it takes time so I feel stuck :( Thank you so much for your advice, it really helps as always :)