Cancer Discussions - November 18th, 2009 - 4 Comments
Does the mammogram radiation couse cancer?
Im 18 years old and today i had a mammogram test well after i had done it they told i shouldn’t have took the mammogram and just took the ultrasound test SO now im wondering does the radiation of the mammogram couse cancer?
Why did you have it? no it doesn’t cause cancer but can show if there is any cancer there so why would they use it on people if it caused cancer on them?
The radiation from a mammogram will do you no harm.
The reason they said you shouldn’t have had one is that they are fairly useless on a woman your age as the tissue in the breasts is too dense for them to be able to differentiate any possibly cancerous tissue.
The Ultrasound is more useful to differentiate tissue and a MRI is even better for dense tissue and will probably be recommended if anything shows up as questionable on the ultrasound..
The amount of radiation one receives during a mammogram is negligible. However, compounded over a lifetime, it can be a significant risk. If you’re 18, it’s best not to have yearly mammograms; but getting a baseline test is fine. Even young people who have tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation are no longer encouraged to seek yearly mammograms until closer to 30 – 35 years of age due to the risk vs. benefit ratio.
What you did today is fine. And if your doctor thinks you should have yearly mammograms at such a young age, talk with him (or her) about your risks and alternatives before going ahead with more testing.
Yes, radiation can cause cancer, and there is research to back it up. But, you should not worry about one test. Takarri gave a great response. I recommend you do research and decide for yourself what is the best option for you in the future.