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Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Tracy10 asks

Q: Can patients get melanoma from too much cancer radiation?

If people are fair skinned and get many permanent red spots immediately after an MRI which later turn into permanent freckles, can radiation for breast cancer give them more red spots and freckles too -- or melanoma or skin cancer later?
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9/29/08 4:34pm

Tracy, the kind of radiation you get from an MRI or cancer treatment is different than the kind that causes melanoma. Melanoma is caused by UV radiation, like sunlight and artificial UV lights (tanning booths, etc.) I wouldn't worry about getting skin cancer from an MRI. But just to set your mind at ease, why don't you talk to your doctor? (S)he can certainly explain to you just how much radiation you're getting, and what potential harm (if any) it might do. Good luck - PJH

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