X Rays - Cass City,MI

I was 14 when I had many of these same tests .... And I have had them repeatedly for the past 30 years, as I have Crohn's Disease and these kinds of tests, combined with a colonoscopy, are the only way to follow the progression of the disease. I DO NOT have cancer ... Of any kind. These tests are diagnostic tools for his doctor and if all other diagnostic tools have failed to provide an answer, then he must move to the "big guns", so to speak.

If you are still worried, use this risk calculator from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists ... http://www.xrayrisk.com/

But, according to this report (http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/risk.htm), his risk factor is exceedingly low and about the same as if he'd driven / ridden 357 miles on the highway.

All that said, relax Mom. You made the right decision armed with a need report from his doctor. Good job!

If X-rays caused cancer we'd all be dead. The amount of radiation they get is very minimal and the things they might find that would need treatment could be life saving.

Let it go. Kids get X-rays all the time for one thing or another.

One test is not going to cause cancer.

Wouldn't you prefer to find out the cause of his pain and get it fixed?

My concern would be to make sure I found the cause and then a cure for my child vs worrying over a test that can potentially solve the problem.

He is not getting that level of radiation daily. Don't over analyze and be studying on the internet. Talk to your Dr.

I would have done the testing too. It is far more important for your son's doctor to know what is going on now.
FYI... As a child my mom used to routinely have her feet Xrayed for fun at the local shoe store. They did not know at the time that X-rays had radiation that could be dangerous. My mom has never had cancer:)

Did you know that xrays used to be done of people's feet in shoe stores?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe-fitting_fluoroscope

Read about this box that leaked radiation outside of the box - not just exposing the feet. This thing was used for many, many years. We did not hear of an epidemic of people's feet being poisoned by xrays. We did learn as medical science got better that LONG-TERM exposure to xrays is bad for you. The article mentions "chronic" exposure, and your son is not being chronically exposed by having this done.

However, you could give YOURSELF health problems if you worry too much about stuff with him. Trust your doctors and stop reading all the scary stuff on the internet. You aren't do yourself or your son any favors.

Good luck,
Dawn

We are exposed to radiation every single day of our lives. You've heard of the sun right? And it's also in the soil, in books we read, etc. It's everywhere. One good diagnostic x-ray isn't going to cause cancer. I've had many x-rays over my lifetime. I have had broken bones and pneumonia... and I'm still doing fine. Stop worrying and be thankful that doctors have these tools to help your son.

Relax. X-rays now probably have less radiation then they did when we were kids. My sister was born with a detached esophagus in 1970. They operated the day she was born and sewed it back up, but she had to have those things EVERY YEAR and still has to have them. She is 43. She does not have cancer.

Unless your kid is getting x-rayed every week, he'll be fine. The techs cover the internal organ areas that are not being x-rayed to protect them as well. The earth is constantly bombarded by radiation from the sun, from space, etc. My son has needed x-rays for a potentially broken arm, when he swallowed a metal ball, and when they thought he had pneumonia (he did). He is turning 6 this month. Stop reading all the crazy stuff on the internet. Yes, you need to be cautious, but if you let this go and he had something wrong that could only have been detected quickly with the x-rays, how bad would THAT be?

I'm a nurse & exposed to all kinds of radiation all the time. No cancer. It's not that big a risk ... whatever your kiddo is suffering from is probably a bigger risk.

My son had one at 2 years old. He's fine. One test isn't going to cause cancer

I had so many chest x-rays as a child I should literally glow. So far...forty and no cancer *knock wood*. My super healthy non x-rayed first cousin breast cancer at 38.

One test no worries!!

I tried to calculate my cancer risk on the calculator linked below...and at worst came out 1 in 975...that is with fifty plus chest x-rays in my life so far...

Honestly, I know that things highten the risk of cancer but so does breathing. I dont worry about them. I worry about my childs health and ways to fix it. My son at age two had to have an x ray because he fell, couldnt breath and so the checked the ribs to make sure that they did not break. You had to be there for why we thought about that. The scream was ungodly, he wouldn't let anyone touch them, couldn't breath. It was a nightmare and I still hear it.

Anyways I am back on track. As long as they are not frequent, I wouldnt worry. I have had several x-rays done and I am cancer free, feeling fine, and a healthy ox. I had a lot done when I was younger.

My mom had a lot do to her breaking her hip, she is 50 and fine.

Take a deep breath, and hope that his tummy is fine.

AN x-ray has never given anyone cancer.

You are wise to be hesitant about possibly unneeded medical procedures of any kind... and yes... excessive xrays COULD lead to cancer... but unless your son uses this x-ray as a spring board to a career as an x-ray technician and decides never to leave the room or wear protective cover etc... he'll be fine.

Relax. Although the x-ray won't have any adverse impact, your stress and anxiety will!

HTH
T.

I think you're worrying way too much. It'd take getting x-rayed over and over and over to be exposed to the amount of cancer causing radiation.

There's a saying at a doctor's office that is about xrays. Pretty much says, "Why xray? Because to to see is to know and to not see is to guess. We refuse to guess with your health" (not a perfect quote, but that's it in essence) Think about it. Xrays will show quite a lot. And you'd rather have a picture on your side or your child's side to decrease guesswork, right?

The amount of radiation that we get with an x-ray is minimal. My daughter is a nursing assistant and has worked with x-rays. She told me the amounts that an x-ray puts out and the amounts that one would need to have it be dangerous and there was a massive big difference. I don't remember the numbers.

Also, I and everyone I know have had numerous x-rays through out our lives and have had no ill effects. The need for the x-ray far outweighs the need to avoid them.

Child's health is more important we are exposed to radiation everyday of our lives. I would not worry at all about it.

Yes and your over reacting quit reading the web. If u trust ur dr. Than your fine your child's fine.