Researchers estimate that two percent of future cancers in the U.S. could be attributable to medical radiation uses, including CT and CAT scans. That comes out to be equal to about 29,000 cases of cancer a year with 15,000 deaths.
A 2013 Australian study determined that overall, people who had CT scans had a 24 percent higher chance of getting cancer than someone who hadn’t undergone the procedure. Each additional scan, it was found, added another 16 percent of acquiring cancer because of these imaging techniques.
Though a CT holds a cancer risk of possibly fatal illnesses as one chance in 2,000, the overall risk of cancer in the U.S. population is one in five. Ha!, say supporters, the risk of a CT scan is miniscule. In a situation where the diagnosis of an illness outweighs the benefits of not getting a scan, a scan is warranted.
When to Ask Questions
If a doctor would like you to have a CAT or CT scan, it is time to ask questions. First, ask why the imaging test and if another diagnostic test could be used instead, like an ultrasound or MRI, both of which don’t use radiation to do their jobs.
Because there are no federal limits on CT scans, keep records for yourself. Some doctors may not be aware of how much radiation to which you have already been exposed.
And beware the uninformed physician. A 2012 survey of a population of doctors revealed that half did not realize that CT scans increase the patient’s risk of cancer. Another report estimated about 35 percent of CTs were ordered as a defense against medical lawsuits. These “just-in-case” exams add to the risk of radiation-induced cancers like bone, leukemia, thyroid, breast, lung and skin cancers, which could take decades to develop. So do your homework and don’t be afraid to question your doctor as to his or her treatment protocol. It is, after all, your health.