Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am 29 years old and in good health. My height is 6 feet and 1 inch, and I weigh 165 lbs. I just had a CT scan around my stomach for kidney stones. This is the second scan in the same area. The first was a 3.86 mSv dosage, and the second was a 3.26 mSv dosage.
Should I be worried about cancer from radiation? I heard the body heals itself from slight radiation like this. Is that true? How much is too much? This was all in the same year, and a head CT scan was performed. I have had a total of three CT scans in the previous year. Other tests I have taken include blood and urine tests.
Kindly advise.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
You do not need to worry about the radiation dose from regular computed tomography (CT) scans done to diagnose disease, as these have benefits beyond any potential or perceived detrimental effects of radiation. The acceptable limit for the general public's whole-body radiation dose is 5.0 mSv annually. For a radiation worker, it is 50 mSv.
You must understand that the radiation is being given through a CT to diagnose and treat the disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may not be a good option for kidney stones. So it is within reason to have these scans and not worry about any potential cancer that may or may not happen in 20 years.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I am confused here because you said that the dose acceptable for the general public is 5.0 mSv annually, but I had about nine this year, with two CT scans for the stomach and one for the head. That is why I am worried.
You said not to worry because the CT scan for diagnosis outweighs the effects of the radiation. While that is true, I have nothing to worry about now but the radiation since nothing was wrong with me. I am just worried that 9.0 mSv is a lot, and it will give me cancer.
Kindly advise.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
It does not mean that you will get cancer once you cross 5.0 mSv. Even 50 mSv is not a high risk for cancer. It means that you need to be a little careful when you have your next scan.
Avoid it if the same diagnostic information can be obtained with ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If computed tomography (CT) is the only option and important diagnostic information will be missed, your best bet is still a CT. When it comes to radiation, dose limits are assigned low so that remedial action can be taken, not to determine cancer occurrence.
Even if you receive 1 mSv a year, which is the background radiation from space, you are theoretically at risk of cancer. But the chance of it happening increases with increasing dose. So my advice is not to worry, and if you are advised a CT scan, schedule a meeting with your doctor or radiologist to determine whether it is needed and whether any alternate tests could be done.
I hope this helps.
Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Then why does everyone freak out about CT scans and cancer? Also, do you know of any foods that can reduce DNA damage? I read that blueberries can help with that.
Please advise.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
Any foods with high antioxidant activities will be good against deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. All fruits and vegetables are good. Regular exercise, daily or 3 times a week, stimulates the body's repair mechanisms. Low fat, low alcohol, and no smoking are prescriptions for a healthy life.
We have a radiation principle called ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable). So that is why it is low for the general public and higher for radiation workers. The basic principle is to keep the dose as low as possible, since even 1.0 mSv can give you cancer, but it is not reasonable to limit it to 1.0 mSv.
I hope this information will help you.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
So I have no increased risk of cancer with two CT scans to the stomach and one to the head?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Not really. As I said, the benefits outweigh any potential risk.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thanks for the reply.
I know they outweigh the risk, but they found nothing; that is why I am focusing on the radiation. Do you know how much of an increased risk I got?
I read somewhere that 10.0 mSv will only raise your chances by 0.05%. Is that true? In total, I believe I am only at 9.0 mSv, which I am sure is nothing when you said radiation workers could get 50 a year. If I eat foods rich in antioxidants and work out, will that help counter this damage?
Kindly advise.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
Yes. The 0.05 percent risk is true. And the diet and exercise should help.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I have a few questions: Is there a balance where if I get 9.0 mSv this year, then I get much lower over the next couple of years? Does it average out?
Can you reverse the damage from diet and exercise caused by radiation? Can your body heal from low doses of radiation? If so, what are low doses? Does it matter whether you get one scan at 10.0 mSv or two at 5.0 mSv? Are they the same or different?
Please suggest.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, the risk does average out. Yes, the damage can be reversed, but to what extent is an area of controversy. Yes, the body can heal itself over the years.
People are not experiencing harmful health effects from the one to two mSv background radiation around us. There is no true “zero-risk” dose. ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) is the principle that is followed. A 10.0 mSv scan may have more cancer risk than a 2.5 mSv scan, but the risk is so unimaginably tiny.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thanks for the reply.
I was specifically worried about leukemia because I used to smoke half a pack a day from 19 to 26 years old (3.5 total pack-years), and then I got these three scans in a year. Should I be worried? I quit smoking three years ago and live a healthy lifestyle now.
Kindly advise.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
I do not really know for sure. Considering that 40 pack-years is the cutoff for screening for lung cancer. But even one cigarette can theoretically cause lung cancer. So, keep your healthy lifestyle and follow up on any symptoms that you feel are suspicious.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for your reply.
Should I be worried?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern. No, I do not think so.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thanks for the reply.
I have a question, as I told you before, I smoked 3.5 pack-years total. I quit smoking three years ago, and I am 29.
Well, my great-grandmother died from lung cancer at 49. She was a very, very heavy smoker, and so was her husband. Does her dying early increase my risk of getting lung cancer, or does it not matter because she smoked super heavily, and that was several generations ago? Her daughter (my grandfather's sister) is in her 70s and has COPD. She was also a lifelong smoker. Should I be worried even though I have 3.5 pack-years?
I did not know if genetics were still a factor when it was several generations ago.
Kindly advise.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
They say that genetics loads the gun, and the environment is the trigger to most diseases, cancer being no exception. I have seen long-time smokers with no cancer, and I have seen short-time smokers or non-smokers with aggressive forms of the disease.
We do not know a lot, but we do know a few things. Smoking predisposes individuals to cancer. This could be self, passive, or even environmental. But each person's inherent genetic susceptibility will determine if you get the disease or not. In your case, it is quite apparent that there seems to be some genetic susceptibility, but the insult that the body endured in both instances was severe.
I am unsure if this could mean that you will develop cancer in the future. My advice would be to eat healthily, avoid junk foods, and exercise regularly. I would also advise you to meet a lung specialist and take his advice on screening for lung cancer.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Was this conversation helpful?
Answered byDr. Andrew Chellakumar Fenn
Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.