Hi Mamas!
My 16 y/o son got accepted to the one week summer medical camp at the Children’s hospital. Only a handful of the applicants is selected. They require the normal X-RAY done within the 12 months of the camp date, which is 8/1/12. My son had the X-RAY done last year, 5/16/11, which is just a few months off the 12 months mark. They want my son do another scan. Should he do it or should I pull him out of the camp? How bad is it for the teenager to experience this level of the radiation for 2 years in the row? I don’t want to sound paranoid, but having been through the cancer nightmare myself I am very careful and protective towards my only child.
Thank you!!
Thank you very much for giving me your support and peace of mind! I am sorry I didn’t specify what kind of X-Ray needs to be done, but Patty K was right on the money: chest X-Ray. I’d imagine it’ll be the standard, physical type of X-RAY. Thank you all, the Camp is on!
If a Children's Hospital is asking for this, I have trouble believing it would be dangerous.
When I broke my wrist I had to have x-rays done each week. An x-ray really is a small amount of radiation. If he were having x-rays done every week for weeks at a time, I might be taking to the doctors about it.
But once a year is really no biggy.
I would not worry about it and get it done. Don't make your son miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity because you are paranoid. There are so many more things out there that you should worry more about than an xray. My mom freaks out that my son carries his cel phone in his pocket cause it has radiation and she wont talk with hers not on speaker phone because of it. They would not be doing this xray if it was something that would hurt him!
From what I understand, our kids get more radiation from being out in the sunlight than they do from getting a normal X-ray. So no, I would not let him miss out on such an opportunity. My little brother, age 20, has had to have extensive x-rays, MRIs, PET scans & bone scans because he had bone cancer at age 16. This will go on for years. It takes seriously HIGH levels of radiation for it to be a concern. At this level, you've got nothing to worry about.
He will not be damaged by having another x-ray in a little over a year. People who are ill have many x-rays, CAT scans, MRI's in a couple of years and they are all OK. You can do some research by googling x-ray. Also talk with your doctor about it.
Here is a site that talks about safe amounts of exposure. http://www.new.ans.org/pi/resources/dosechart/
I would definitely have the x-ray and send him to camp. It's a great opportunity for him.
What is a "normal x-ray done within 12 months of the camp date"? I've never heard of a camp where you need an x-ray... just asking.
Then you mention 'scan', that is different than an x-ray.
One X-ray a year is not a problem.
What kind of x-ray is needed to go to camp?
It will be ok. Think about it, realistically... he gets xray exposure daily.. you just don't know how much and how often.
I understand that you are concerned but please don't let your fears keep your child from doing something very fun, educational and productive.
Let him go to camp.
I spent from around 8 y/o to about 12 y/o in and out of hospitals, I have no idea how many x-rays I'd gotten over those years, MRI's too. I'm "healthy" and have no side effects from them that I am aware of. If you are turely worried talk to his doctor or to the radiology tech, they would know for sure.
Have you contcted the camp to see if they will accept his most recent xrays? If not, I'm sure it will be fine.
I see no reason to pull him from camp when this is being done by a children's hospital.
He will not suffer any side effects because of two, I assume, chest x-rays.
It sounds like he is headed into the medical field. I commend him DO NOT
pull him from camp because of your fears, please. He would never forgive
you.
Updated
He will not suffer any side effects because of two, I assume, chest x-rays.
It sounds like he is headed into the medical field. I commend him DO NOT
pull him from camp because of your fears, please. He would never forgive
you.
Well, when I broke my arm a couple years ago, I had a couple dozen x-rays done within a couple of months. I had to have surgery, and had multiple fractures, so they needed to do at least 3 shots every time I had a follow up. I haven't suffered any ill side effects! :)
he will be fine because its been 15months when he go for his x-rays so it would be a year and as long it been a year he is good to go so no dont pull him out of the camp this is a good thing for him hope my answer could help u out
