Mammogram radiation raises breast cancer risk in some women
Reported December 02, 2009
A new study reportedly found evidence suggesting that exposure to radiation through mammogram screening may actually boost the risk of breast cancer in some high-risk women.
Researchers analyzed six previous studies with four examining the effect of low doses of radiation from mammography among women with the gene variant linked to higher breast cancer risk and two examining the effect of radiation from mammography in women with a family history of breast cancer.
Martine Jansen-van der Weide at the University Medical Center Groningen, in the Netherlands was quoted by healthday.com as saying “Women who were exposed before the age of 20 had a 2.5 times increased risk of breast cancer.”
Women who had five or more exposures were also found at 2.5 times higher risk of breast cancer.
The researchers also found, the average risk of breast cancer from radiation exposure was 1.5 times greater in the high-risk women than the high-risk women who were not exposed to radiation from mammogram screening.
The study was presented Monday at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting in Chicago.
Radiation risk from mammogram screening or other medical sources is often downplayed by doctors. In fact, radiation like x-ray used in mammography has been extensively studied and recognized by the US. government as a cancer-causing in humans. It can cause a variety of cancers including breast cancer. And there is no safe dose and exposure to any amount of radiation results in damage to cells.
Source : www.foodconsumer.org