Can't that nuclear stress exam for your heart given intervainiously possibly, like the radiation exposure up your chances for cancers?

[thatgirl]

[busylady]

Hi Thatgirl

I am a radiographer ( therapy rather than diagnostic) so am used to using radiation on a daily basis, although we use it to treat cancer patients. I have no personal experience of this test but I understand this is a routine test that uses an "isotope" ( which is another name for a radioactive particle that carries and emits a small amount of radiation to the heart) This can then be monitored and tracked to look at muscle and blood flow. An isotope called thallium is often used and this haswhat is called a very short half life.This means it decays/disappears very quickly and emits less and less radiation over a period of time till no radiation is left. Often we are talking of hours here. It also emits a very low dose and low energy level of radiation, so its not as penetrating as high energy x rays, so the "potential damage" to normal tisses is so much less.

As you only have this test as a one off, or maybe a couple of times the "risk" of it inducing any tumour is low, you maybe at more risk if you dont have the test to get the correct diagnosis and treatment?

It would be wrong of me to say any radiation does not carry a risk, but in my opinion the risk in this test is extremely low and the benefits of the will outweigh them by far

Just my opinion though

Hope that helps in some small way?