Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Diagnostic Testing Radiation May Increase Breast Cancer Risk

After a study (known as GENE-RAD-RISK) was conducted in Europe, it was found that radiation exposure from diagnostic tests (such as chest x-rays or mammograms) before age 30 increases the risk of breast cancer; however, the risk is only increased (by about five percent) in women who have abnormal or mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.  The BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene one) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene two) genes are responsible for normal breast cell damage repair and growth.  These mutated/abnormal genes may be more sensitive to radiation exposure than fully functioning BRCA genes because of the already debilitated DNA repairer they have.  The best way for females under 30 years of age to be screened would be with an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).



Although I am not completely surprised that radiation would increase the breast cancer risk, I was interested to find out that the dosage of radiation through diagnostic tests are at lower levels than the doses that increase the risks of other cancers agitated by radiation.  Before reading about this, I was unaware of the fact that everyone has BRCA genes, but it is only the mutated or abnormal ones that actually cause breast cancer.  It's a shame that such screenings as mammograms and chest x-rays could help induce breast cancer when a woman is getting the test done in the first place to ensure she does not have the cancer already.  Since the GENE-RAD-RISK study provides that MRI's have not been known to increase the risk, I would begin recommending this procedure to women I know that need to get a screening done.
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2 comments:

  1. gallocOctober 20, 2012 at 10:59 AM

    You would think that hospitals and other facitlities would find other alternatives for women under 30 since x-rays and mammograms increases the risk of breast cancer. but couldn't this also be the same for woman over age 30? Ultrasounds could be an effective way to also see if a women has breast cancer or detect a lump in the breast. I did not know that MRI could also detect breast cancer, but what about women that have a pace maker or metal in their body? They would not be able to have an MRI. Isn't there any other safer way to detect breast cancer without increasing the chancing of getting the disease?

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  2. Carla GalloOctober 20, 2012 at 11:04 AM

    You would think that hospitals and other facitlities would find other alternatives for women under 30 since x-rays and mammograms increases the risk of breast cancer. but couldn’t this also be the same for woman over age 30? Ultrasounds could be an effective way to also see if a women has breast cancer or detect a lump in the breast. I did not know that MRI could also detect breast cancer, but what about women that have a pace maker or metal in their body? They would not be able to have an MRI. Isn’t there any other safer way to detect breast cancer without increasing the chancing of getting the disease?

    ReplyDelete

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