CLL and Radiation

[drvksethi]

I have CLL for 4 years and stable on Ibrutinib. I want to know if I can work in cardiac cath lab as a professional medical doctor. To mention here, there is lot of radiation there. And even in normal persons, rarely can cause brain tumors and cataracts.

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

drvksethi, welcome to the forum for CLL patients and carers.

Your question sent me searching and here is a study that deals with the question of health risks for the workers in Cath Labs. For you specifically it may help to share and discuss the situation with those who can help you sort out the risk : family, CLL Dr., employer?

WHAT IS KNOWN

Orthopedic strain and chronic radiation exposure from fluoroscopy are recognized risk factors for cardiologists and paramedical staff in catheterization and electrophysiology laboratory. However, the distinct occupational health risks still need to be investigated.

WHAT THE STUDY ADDS

The survey shows that several health problems are more frequently observed in workers performing fluoroscopically guided cardiovascular procedures than in unexposed controls.

The primary risks mostly related to work activity and radiation exposure included orthopedic illnesses, cataract, skin lesions, and cancers, particularly in workers with longer duration of occupational work.

The secondary findings showed an increased prevalence of anxiety/depression, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, supporting the recent evidence of other radiogenic noncancer effects.

These findings can contribute to spread the culture of safety in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

ahajournals.org/doi/full/10...

The question of workplace health risks is not easy for anyone to have to confront when the outcome of sorting the benefits and risks may mean having to change work or to retire. You haven't suggested that is your situation, but I assume so. Please let us know what you decide in regard to your own safety in your workplace and how there may be some adjustments that can be made to allow you to continue working, but with maybe less exposure--if that is a possibility.

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Also, you may already know that Ibrutinib can have an adverse cardio effect. So, that needs to be acknowledged and part of your discussion.

[drvksethi in reply to cllady01]

I know the radiation hazards to normal persons, but what will happen to a person who is already a patient of CLL, Will it flare up, become resistant, or maybe Richter transformation

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to drvksethi]

CLL is a very slow growing cancer and therapeutic radiation treatment can be used to shrink the spleen or large nodes to defer treatment when there are no other indicators for treatment. I'm not aware of any specific studies that would answer your questions however.

Neil