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Monday, October 6, 2008

Chest X-ray and Breast Cancer

Harvard Health Publications
Copyright 2006 Harvard Health Publications

Question:

I am 35 years old and I had tuberculosis at age 5. For the first year of treatment, I recall that I had frequent X-rays, every two weeks. Am I at increased risk for breast cancer because of this?

Answer:

The answer is probably not. Most studies looking at this issue suggest that frequent routine diagnostic X-rays, such as chest X-rays and mammograms, do not increase breast cancer risk. However, you were quite young and potentially more vulnerable when you had the X-rays performed and the older machines delivered higher doses of radiation than they do today. It is understandable that you are concerned.

If you otherwise are at average risk for breast cancer, you should follow standard breast cancer prevention and early detection guidelines. For prevention, maintain a healthy body weight and limit intake of saturated fats. Get regular exercise. If you drink alcohol, have no more than one drink per day. Also, women who use alcohol can lower breast cancer risk by taking extra folic acid as a B supplement or in a multiple vitamin.

Regarding screening for breast cancer, discuss your situation with your primary care physician to help you decide if a baseline mammogram before the age of 40 is warranted and when you should start annual mammograms. Currently, there is no clear evidence that earlier or more frequent screening for breast cancer is necessary for someone who received standard diagnostic X-rays.


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Harvard Health Publications Source: from the Harvard Health Publications Family Health Guide, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.

Used with permission of StayWell.

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