Radiation overdose

[Rich1957]

Anyone else had a a CT scan and told that the radiation levels were stronger than they should have been ?

I was at a trial I’m on today and was told they needed to have a chat , I was took into another room and told about 18 months ago I had a CT scan and the radiation levels were 4 times what they should have been . I had an apology and told procedures had now been put in place for this never to happen again . Obviously my mind is now doing cartwheels 🙈 as I was told this does increase my chance of developing cancer . I was also told by having a CT SCAN your risk of developing cancer is 2000/1 can anyone shed any light on this ?

[Hidden]

That's not good Rich - one of the reasons I won't do trials, but I don't suppose you have much come back if you volunteered for the trial where they overdosed you.

The only thing I can say is basically what web md says: webmd.com/cancer/can-ct-sca...

Sure do hope you are safe, perhaps just avoid having more trials with CT scans. Just have the ones that are necessary in the future.

Take good care.

[Rich1957 in reply to Hidden]

I’m not after any form of compensation ( whether I could or not ) but feel I really need to fully understand what complications could arise . You read bits and apparently it’s the equivalent to 800 normal X-rays but I can’t find a lot of research on it .

Me personally I will always go on trials as much for myself as for other people , to me it’s a little bit like organ donations , A MUST .

[Hidden in reply to Rich1957]

the link mentioned a chest ct scan dose is less radiation than another body part for instance so that is a bit more reassuring.

I can't decide if I am organ donating or leaving body to science yet, I thought I read somewhere science department doesn't want the body if an organ has been removed I will have to look more into it.

[Rich1957 in reply to Hidden]

Bkin from what I understand I didn’t have a low dose one it was around 8 mSv which means I had around 32 mSv from what I understand.

They have offered for the leading professor to have a chat with me which I think I will take up 👍

[Superzob in reply to Rich1957]

Depending on what part of the country you live in, 32 mSv could actually be LESS than the natural background radiation and, as there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, you might as well take comfort in the knowledge that some people are exposed to the equivalent of 6 CT scans a year without getting anywhere near one!

[Rich1957 in reply to Superzob]

Yes they also told me the worse place to live was Cornwall as it has the highest readings which I believe are 8 mSv per year and normal levels in most counties are 1.5 mSv 🙈

[Hidden in reply to Rich1957]

Oh so sorry Rich, yes do have that chat with the leading professor, let em know from hereon it you want celebrity care and no cost to you. x

[Izb1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bkin and sorry to interupt Rich on your post. My Mum had everything in place to donate her body to medical science but she died in August when the schools are on holiday and two people had already died so had no room for her. I am sure my Mum would have been devasted had she known, have plans in place just in case. My Mum had always said she would be cremated until later when she found out about donation so at least I went ahead with what I thought she would have wanted x

[Rich1957 in reply to Izb1]

Difficult one , I’d never thought off . I’m sure no one would want my body other than for medical science . So I will have to have a think 🤔

[Hidden in reply to Izb1]

That's unfortunately Izb1, it would be the luck of the draw for anyone I guess and something that cannot be foreseen. good to have a back up plan.

[Rich1957 in reply to Hidden]

Bkin thanks for the link , that basically confirmed what I was told 👍

[2greys]

2 CT Scans per year is the same limit that an EU nuclear worker is allowed per year. Given that those limits err on the safe side by at least double that, then I would say you are safe.

I have had 4 CT Scans plus 2 PET Scans in the same year, because I was on cancer watch with multiple nodules constantly appearing. Plus I have had very high doses of Radiotherapy to curtail a tumour, now in remission for the past 18 months and still looking stable.

[Rich1957 in reply to 2greys]

Hi 2greys I don’t think I made myself clear the radiation I was given was 4 times the strength it should have been in that particular Ct scan , I also had 3 or 4 other ct scans at the normal level during that year

[2greys in reply to Rich1957]

The radiation that I received in just one of the 5 doses exceeded what was the equivalent to 20 CT Scans, so times that by 5, all given in just 10 days. I am not worried by it at all. In fact without it I would probably have already passed.

[Rich1957 in reply to 2greys]

Hi 2greys it appears that you are in possible danger if you have in excess of 100 ( whatever it is in a very short time ) and it appears I only had about 32 so the worrying has gone .

I’ll still have a chat to find out why it happened but as I’m trails when ever I can I’ll keep having my free MOT’S and hopefully if anything sinister crops up it will be dealt with swiftly 👍

[Hidden in reply to Rich1957]

My advice would be to do your very best to forget about it, you could do yourself more damage in other areas by googling and worrying about it than the radiation could ever do. I would expect them to give you regular frequent checks that everything is okay, which I hope they plan to do anyway. Thank you for taking part in a trial which could result in helping many.👍👏

[2greys in reply to 2greys]

Which is exactly why on my check ups I only have one CT Scan and one X-Ray per year now, as I said I am not worried at all, done with full knowledge and thankfully consented to. I did get radiation induced inflammation that a 10 week course of steroids sorted out, a small price to pay for saving/extending my life.

Worrying about it will itself make you ill. Your medical team are paid to do the worrying, leave it to them to do the worrying.

[Rich1957 in reply to 2greys]

Yes I agree 2greys I’m quite happy now I have a few more facts . I’m happy to wait until I go in next month to have my question answered 👍

[Response]

Hello Rich - I'm sorry this has happened to you. I understand your concern and hope medical research you carry out or specialists you talk to can put your mind at rest.

However - perhaps it would be good to see a specialist lawyer about your rights for some redress - not because you're being greedy, but to cover the worry, and more importantly if on the unlikely event anything did happen in future , you'd need funds to help you through and then you'd really wish you'd done something. Presumably they have insurance for this and have already ceded that it was their fault.

[Rich1957 in reply to Response]

Hi Response I know what you say is probably the right thing to do but being me my head doesn’t see it that way .

The NHS have been absolutely superb to me and every person who I’ve met who works in the research department has been fantastic towards me , including visits to me on the occasions I’ve been hospitalised.

They have ask me to sign something on my next visit which I will read very closely and would not sign away if my rights were effected. But my head just tells me they have been so fantastic to me I certainly would not put that in jeopardy.

To show how it has also effected my family , my kids don’t smoke ( thank god 🙈unlike me 😂) and my youngest daughter has just started university to become a nurse ❤️NHS . So proud !!

[Response]

Yes, I know what you mean.

[Ern007]

This is one reason I won;t have trials. Even at normal does add them to X Rays and who knows.

I was told I was having an MRI Sc an (No radiation but, I have been book in for a CT scan and that's on top of two recent X Rays that found a shadow on my lung. Good luck but at 2000-1 not worth worrying, probably do more harm.

[Rich1957 in reply to Ern007]

Ern007 I’ve found that going on trials has taught me all about my condition and how to make the most of my life . Also as I said it’s a free Mot which most of us could never afford

One of the biggest thing I learnt was it’s not what air we take in but how much we expel dictates how much we can take in , and to try not to worry / panic when i get out of breathe just try to relax and i will come around a lot quicker .

My FEV1 level is 35% currently but did go down to 28/29 % last year after having valves fitted and having a surgical mishap 🙈😂. But some time over the last 4 months one of the valves has dropped into place and took me back up to 35/36% . Although I’m still on oxygen upon movement at 6-8 L ( as my oxygen levels go down very quickly at movement) I hoping to have this reduced as I’ve got an appointment with the oxygen people at the hospital.

Keep well everyone, we are all different

[skischool]

On a lighter note Rich,think of the electricity costs your family will save when you become the designated night light or standard lamp in your parlour,there will be no need to constantly be telling the kids to switch off the lights.

I am sure the checks and reassurances you will receive in the coming months will put your mind at rest.

Best wishes Ski's and Scruff's

[Rich1957 in reply to skischool]

😂😂if I could live anywhere it would be next to you , I always have a real good chuckle at your sense of humour . I know I wouldn’t live long though as I’d die of laughing .

DONT EVER CHANGE 👍

[WINDBAG]

Sorry to hear about you overdose hopefully nothing turns up for 20 years or more...on another subject how are the valve implants working out I have been following as best i can as I am considering having the procedure done here in the states we are a few years behind you all. I haven't been able to get enough results back to make a commitment. any info would be appreciated.

[Rich1957 in reply to WINDBAG]

Hi windbag I’d definitely have the valves but would want to ask a few questions first . The main one would be are they putting them in your left or right lung ( I’ll guess it’s the left ) as a recent trial in America has shown 8 or 9 out of ten have them In the left . I’d also have a Chartis assessment before having the valves fitted not during , this will basically let them know if your lungs / lungs are suitable . Personally Id be aware if they tell you your lungs in the centre are like tissue paper and intend to put them in that area , from what I understand if it’s higher or lower area is the intended target I’d 100% go for it . I have one other target area high on the left and will probably go for that within the next two years .

Hope this helps