Radiation with scans? How often is too often?

[oilermama]

Has anyone had concerns over radiation levels with CT/bone scans? I had been having scans every six months but now the onco wants to move them to every four months. My sister the nurse wondered if the more often radiation would be dangerous and I did not know the answer.

[Nocillo]

I’ve also been moved from 6 to 4 months, but I’ve never worried about the radiation considering the fact that I have mets to bones and stomach. I’ll risk the radiation I guess. We’re sort of in a no win situation at this point : (

[oilermama in reply to Nocillo]

so true... I guess I would rather know about the scan results than wait to see radiation effects...

[mariootsi]

Don't have an answer, but I have Ct scans every 3 months and bone scan every 6mths

[luckysmom13]

I say just light me up! What's the worst that could happen... cancer? 😂

[oilermama]

Sandra,Thanks for the thoughtful and lengthy reply... You are right about the three year mark; the onco said that was why she was moving up the frequency even though there are no changes in tumor markers or my reports. Best wishes to you. We are just south of you in Michigan (and love to visit when you let us in!)

[Kellyonekanobe]

I’ve been having scans every three months and yes it is a concern. Google melatonin before scans or radiation. Seems it somehow protects you from the radiation.

[blms in reply to Kellyonekanobe]

Very interesting. I do know that sloane kettering states that melatonin and l theanine help with longevity for cancer patients but I have not read or heard about the advantage of using for radiation! I will look up, thanks!

[kearnan in reply to Kellyonekanobe]

I had just stopped in the small pharmacy across the street from my cancer center. The cancer Center has a great reputation but it is located in what we call Little China. It is all chinese, every sign is Chinese. They have this huge supermarket and it is all in Chinese. Loads of herbs and spices. They have live ducks, huge turtles, live big fish that I feel bad for bc they can barely move. I would not buy meat. Even the eggs look different but I can recognize ice cream.

I know there is ONLY one woman who speaks english in the pharmacy so I was trying to get Unisom. So I mime an act where I popping a pill in my mouth and then lay my heads on my hands like I am trying to sleep. She looked confused but then smiled and handed me a bottle of melatonin which is used for sleep also. Never worked for me. then the lady who spoke English came in and showed me where the unisom is.

Thank God I did not need gas-x. Not sure how I would have mimed that one out LOL

[kearnan]

I am going on four years and have them every three months without fail. Never went longer than three months and I still do not glow in the dark

[love2golfwell]

I am also concerned about radiation levels from scans especially as I also had 10 high dose radiation treatments in a 4 month period of time. I know we already have cancer but I don't like adding to it. My PET scans are now every 4 months instead of 3 but I wish they could be 6 months apart. I am supposed to have a mammogram but have been arguing with my doctor to have a thermogram and ultrasound instead. I meet with her at the end of the month to discuss the benefits of a mammogram and more radiation. Not sure what the right answer is, but I totally understand how you feel.