Warnings About Cat Scans Especially For Children
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
November 29, 2007 3:53am CST
If a person is having a potential serious health problem, it is often recommended to pinpoint the health problem, a Cat Scan may be recommended. But do people realize the potential health risk they may be creating by having Cat Scans...particularly when children are involved??
I had just heard this on the news, that children are especially vulnerable to the risk of later developing cancer, and the news report said that there may be a dramatic rise in cancer patients 10 to 20 years from now due to the high intensity radiation from Cat Scans---and I found an article that states that Cat Scan technicians never lower the radiation levels of Cat Scans for children and that the average Cat Scan emits the same amount of radiation as 4,000 x-rays--but not just children are at risk at developing radiation induced cancers but everyone.. Also the article points out that in 10-20 cases a Cat Scan isn't even necessary--I don't know about you, but if God forbid I'm told I need a Cat Scan...think I'll decline
Here's an article about the dangers of CatScan and radiation
http://drbenkim.com/articles/ct-scan-dangers.htm
9 people like this
18 responses
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
29 Nov 07
Wow pyewacket! That's some good information indeed! I've had to have a couple of cat scans thanks to my sinus' which resulted in a very very painful surgery but it did help a great deal however the pain is coming back once again and I was told that it's probably due to scar tissue building back up and may need another surgery to correct it. Oh gosh I REALLY dread that idea but it's better than having awful sinus headaches day after day every spring and fall season for about two weeks. I'm holding off for as long as I can possibly stand it. BUT I will definetly pass this information on!
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Can't an MRI do any good to find out the cause instead of going through another CatScan??..I understand that doesn't use radiation
3 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
30 Nov 07
I don't know, never had one. No radiation to an MRI? I wonder how they get the pictures that they need?
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
29 Nov 07
Actually you would think that a cat scan would kill the cancer cells for they take ya and do radiation treatments to get rid of cancer cells after you have been diagnoised with cancer. I for one wont do tha radiation treatment I will take the CHemo if I have to .
And you would think that techs would lower it for kids dont make since that they would give one at the same rate as grown ups!
and they used to be able to pin point problems with out cat scans thru xrays , but when xrays dont find it then I guess the have to go with cat scans for a better techknowlegy
DOnt know if I would take one or not an not up to taking tomany xrays as it is.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
I don't understand why instead of CatScans they don't do MRI's as that doesn't use radiation. I guess radiation is a two way street. On one hand it is known to kill cancer cells, but on the other hand can create cancer cells for healthy cells..weird huh?
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
29 Nov 07
I have been keeping up with the reports about Cat Scans, pyewacket, and I consider the news another example of the dangers we are constantly being exposed to without our knowledge. Of course, they are trying to sugar-coat the news by saying that you would have to have many of them before they could potentially harm you-right!
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Yeah, how hysterical...like CatScans which give out the equivalent of 4,000 x-rays isn't considered a lot, well, gee, just how much is too much in their eyes?
2 people like this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
29 Nov 07
Hi pyewacket! This is very good information and i thank you for sharing it here in mylot because not all of us are aware about this, even me. I know it has some radiation that is emitting but i never thought it is that harmful because i always think that the reason why it is recommended is because for the betterment of a person. I just can't understand why doctors recommend it when it is not even necessary. Is it because they will be earning from this. That is sad if that is the case. Thanks again for this information and i am thankful, i never had a CAT Scan before until now. And i think if i can help it, I would not have one. Take care and have a nice day. :)
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
I think doctors put patients through a lot of unnecessary "procedures" just to save their hides. Like if they didn't they could get sued or something...the patient would wonder why, if something goes wrong and they didn't get some procedure that might have saved their life could sue like crazy--so with docs think it is a precautionary thing..still, think a lot of unnecessary procedures are recommended.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Yes, just why do they call the medical profession a practice anyway, and yes, we are their guinea pigs
2 people like this
@chenghw1986 (98)
• China
29 Nov 07
Now more and more children are liking to have a pet such as cats and dogs, but I dont think it is a bad new.But adults should be more care for your children when they are alone. Gave them health lessons.
that all...
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Nov 07
This has nothing to do with cats and dogs chenghw1986, but a medical procedure called CatScan
2 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
29 Nov 07
Oh wow!! I didn't know all that!!
I have never had a cat scan but my husband has had two. Once not long after we first started dating (he was 17) - he was having extreme migraines and his sister several years previous has a brain tumor and that's how they found out - migraines followed with a cat scan. So naturally his mother wanted to make sure he was okay.
Then again after he hurt back they wanted to do another one. He was having bad migraines again and they were looking at several possibilities - they even think/thought he might have Parkinson's.
That is alarming! I will be keeping that in mind though for sure!
2 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Yeah he's had MRI's too but I guess for some things they'd rather do the cat scans??
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
You'd think with our "wonderful" technology that there would be a less dangerous means of finding out things...did they have MRIs then..that doesn't use radiation
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
30 Nov 07
My hubby works in an ER and he says many, many times kids will come in with the equivalent of a boo-boo. Maybe a bump on the head or a little bruise and parents will demand cat scans. He too has mentioned the dangers of the radiation, but when the cat scan is properly used, it can and does save lives. It can show things that might only be seen with exploratory surgery.
One time, I saw a cat scan from a woman who had been stabbed. You could actually see the blood dripping from her liver into abdominal cavity. She needed surgery. If her liver had not been lacerated, she may have had surgery for no reason.
So we must use intelligence when getting these. They are not too be taken lightly but are excellent diagnostic tools.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Many people need sedation for an MRI - the noise can be disturbing.
One works better on soft tissue, another on bone and harder tissue so they do have different applications.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
I think a lot of CatScans are probably unnecessary..from what I understand MRIs are better than CatScans as they don't use radiation..is that right? So wouldn't that be better?
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Utohhhhh..My hubby has had numerous cat scans over the course of 7yrs. due to his having strokes or his blood thinners not keeping his blood levels right. This mean he might develop cancer then? I sure hope not cause this guy has been thru alot in the past 20 yrs. The ER even sends him b-day and Christmas cards. Whenever he shows up in the ER, they greet him with 'oh noooooo not again, Tom. Head on back to your room and we will be there shortly.' Yes, there is a room that, if it's not in use, they have him go directly to it so he can lay down.
2 people like this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Yes they do. I've never had a cat scan done but have had several MRIs done on my back and knee years ago.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Oh my sorry to hear all that your hubby has been through..have no idea about developing cancer. I'm not sure how MRIs work but don't they work on the same principle as CatScans, yet without radiation??
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63604)
• United States
29 Nov 07
I don't think I'd've ever gotten a correct diagnosis for my torn rotater cuff if it hadn't been for the cat scan I got, because it had been torn & lived with for so many years.
And we wouldn't have known that my mom's strokes started earlier than we knew if the cat scans hadn't shown the damage/scaring.
I do think, like any medical test, it can be over used/abused and is being done. But honestly, some things won't be discovered without this technique. Sometimes it seems like doctors have a new toy, they have to use it, but at the same time, it can be the only way to save a life NOW, and worry about other problems later.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Yes, of course I can see how much the CatScan was able to help you and your mom. The thing I was pointing out though, is how the technicians don't compensate for the difference in size and weight for children and give them the same amount of radiation..maybe an adult can handle it but a small child?? They should at least make the adjustments for kids
2 people like this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
29 Nov 07
Health is becoming an issue now as to whether it is better to take the cure or just forge on through. I think doctors are so fearful of malpractice suits that they just order anything that might help with an iffy diagnosis. I think it is time to put the brakes on a lot of needless testing as well as malpractice suits. Limits need to be imposed on all fronts of the medical profession, no where does it state in medical diplomas that a doctor becomes god upon graduation, so people need to get real.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
You hit the nail on the head there..a lot of "procedures" docs recommend is to save their a$$es and not get sued.. A saying my great-grandmother had, and she was a nurse and thought all docs were morons..either it will cure you or kill you..oh how true
2 people like this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
30 Nov 07
Wow...this is a really useful referral link. Thanks so much for posting this. David and I have both had CT's in the past...but hopefully we won't need anymore. We just got an MRI machine in our area and that seems to be more the way doctors are going. Hopefully Cat Scans will eventually be phased out and the use of MRI's will be a better option.
Good to know..I have bookmarked the site.
Cheers,
Raia
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
Yes I understand that MRIs are safer as they don't use radiation..glad to post :)
1 person likes this
@candytang (341)
• China
30 Nov 07
Good day ,dear friend! Thank you for your discussion,I really haven't heard about that ever.But ,I think what you said are true.As we go to the hospital ,the doctors also recommend that to us ,as they say with that we could know our problem more correctly and comprehensive,it's good for us .I think I never take the idea in mind whether to do this is good or bad ,is there any influence on me ?Maybe I should to learn more about this .Thank you!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 07
I sometimes think doctors recommend a lot of unnecessary procedures though
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
30 Nov 07
There is always potential dangerous of any radiation. Electromagnetic radiation or X-rays side effects are related to age and time of expose. Children and older people should have limited radiation all the time. Medical personnel are using radiation devices that are check every month. Cat scan is using low radiation but multiple exposures, slides.
Overall radiation is huge and in my opinion should be only used for seizures, chronic headaches, kidney stones and in emergency rooms.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
1 Dec 07
I sometimes wonder about the radiation in microwaves too...okay, supposed to be low radiation also, but some people use microwaves constantly for everything, even just to heat up water for tea or coffee all the time...like gee, what's wrong with heating up water the old fashioned way? LOL
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
1 Dec 07
Wow this is scarey. I hadn't heard anything about this situation but it certainly is enough to make be think twice before having a catscan done. I have wondered if there weren't an awful lot of them being done though - it seems every time I turn around someone I know is going for one.
@rekoy1985 (9)
• China
30 Nov 07
i think lots of machines will emit amount of radiation....what should we do....
1 person likes this
