CT scan risks

[Cheyworship]

Hello again, I just made a post about my neurological issues, and how I’m waiting for an MRI. I went back to the hospital and requested a CT, because I was worried sick and couldn’t wait until my MRI was booked. I got it and it was totally clear, so I’m currently diagnosed with atypical migraines. I got the CT because I thought it would help my stress about a brain tumour, but it actually made it 10x worse. Now I’m convinced I’ll develop a tumour within the next couple decades because of the unnecessary radiation. I really thought I was making a good choice getting the CT but now I really really regret it. I wish I just waited however many months for the MRI. I’m 17-years-old and a girl, so I’m at the highest risk for developing cancer due to this. I really shot myself in the foot. I just keep making bad decisions thinking they’ll help my anxiety but instead it makes it so much worse. Anyone relate?

 

[bigjetplane23]

I went through the radiation phase right after my CT scan. I was even scared to hold my baby because I felt like I was beaming off radiation.
I heard from other people that the radiation we got from the head CT scan is the same as traveling across the country in an airplane, being in front of your tv. You’re totally fine.

 

[Samurai]

Risk of brain tumour after a CT scan is very low. 1 in 6000. Theres more chance of getting hit by a bus.

 

[Iugrad91]

Where did you hear that you are at highest risk because of your age? Having one scan is not going to harm you in any way. People get scans all the time, young and old. Don’t make a habit of it, but you can put this worry to rest.

 

[Samurai]

The Risk of Cancer from CT Scans and Other Sources of Low-Dose Radiation: A Critical Appraisal of Methodologic Quality - PubMed

A clear preponderance of articles with higher quality methods found no increased risk of cancer from low-dose radiation. The evidence suggests that exposure to multiple CT scans and other sources of low-dose radiation with a cumulative dose up to 100 mSv (approximately 10 scans), and possibly as...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

20 Scans show no risk

 

[Belizz]

I had the same questions asked to my doctor when I had my first contrast CT, but he reassured me that once means nothing and its really not harmful. And the two following CT scans I got were low grade radiation just equal to normal xrays, done to check my remaining kidney stones.
Don't worry about it much if you don't plan to have a high radiation CT scan every 4-5 months. Also health professionals usually go with low radiation scans in follow ups after the initial necessary scan.

 

[Izthewiz]

Hello again, I just made a post about my neurological issues, and how I’m waiting for an MRI. I went back to the hospital and requested a CT, because I was worried sick and couldn’t wait until my MRI was booked. I got it and it was totally clear, so I’m currently diagnosed with atypical migraines. I got the CT because I thought it would help my stress about a brain tumour, but it actually made it 10x worse. Now I’m convinced I’ll develop a tumour within the next couple decades because of the unnecessary radiation. I really thought I was making a good choice getting the CT but now I really really regret it. I wish I just waited however many months for the MRI. I’m 17-years-old and a girl, so I’m at the highest risk for developing cancer due to this. I really shot myself in the foot. I just keep making bad decisions thinking they’ll help my anxiety but instead it makes it so much worse. Anyone relate?

You're worried about getting a Brain tumor within the next 2 decades???
Let it go.
You have no control of anything except what goes on in your mind.
Life is too short to worry and worry especially things that are out of our control.

 

[Fraser]

If you are 17 and thinking like this, you need to be assertive about getting your health anxiety under wraps. Don't wait 20 years and spend decades falling for your own bullshit like I did.

 

[Walking Circles]

CT scans and the like aren't that big of a concern. You'd be exposed to about as much radiation on a few hour flight, and there are tons of people that fly multiple times a month.