For decades, the effects of radiation has been studied by doctors around the world. X-rays are used in the medical and dental field to take radiographs of certain parts of a person's body. Some have become concerned of the long term and short term effects of having x-rays taken because of the radiation that is exposed. Since the rise of concern, studies have been done to find any type of link between cancer and radiation from x-rays. Specifically, in dental x-rays, researchers have been performing studies trying to prove that radiation from x-rays in the dental office can cause cancer .
In 2011, Colleagues from the National Cancer Institute conducted a study involving dental x-rays. Sara Schonfield and others did comparisons with the number of x-rays in the dental field for a group of people who have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer (Radiation and Thyroid Cancer.) She studied that group before they were even diagnosed to others without thyroid cancer. The ones who have had dental x-rays had more chances of developing thyroid cancer. More than 75% were diagnosed with thyroid cancer before turning 44 years old. Because of this study, their result was that the more x-rays conducted, the higher the chance of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. From 1972 to 2002 there was a 140% increase in thyroid cancer diagnosis (Brody.) Because of this, more researchers have decided to do studies about the increase and the causes. From the year 2000 to the year 2008, it was recorded that twice as many women were diagnosed with thyroid cancer than ever before. The numbers keep rising year after year. There has been a sharp increase involving the diagnosis of thyroid cancer within the past 2 decades. But according to the researchers at the Vetera...
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...achines are not being studied or monitored so there is no way to know if the newer modern technology is a huge change. Those who have used the old machines that exposed more radiation are the ones that are older and those are the ones that have been studied. There is going to be more needed investigations to find out the cause of thyroid cancer. For now, it is said that dental x-rays is not the immediate cause for thyroid cancer.
Works Cited
Nordqvist (Sunday 6 June 2010). Multiple Dental x-rays raise risk of thyroid cancer. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/191025.php
Radiation and Thyroid Cancer. www.stopcancerfund.org
Roslin (August 14, 2013). Studies link dental X-rays to brain tumours, thyroid cancer, and low birth weight. www.straight.com
Brody (April 25, 2011). Thyroid fears aside, that x-ray's worth it. www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/health/26brody.html?_r=0
Note that the introduction of screening may produce short-term rises (AIHW, Cancer incidence projections) due to greater detection.
The rate of breast cancer was found to be much higher (six times higher) than the general population. Initially, the probability of the calculation was found to be 1 in a million but was later adjusted to roughly 1 in 25. However, the statistics used to calculate these probabilities are not foolproof (see Q1). As the use of statistics in cancer clusters is questionable, it is more appropriate to focus on exposures. After a thorough examination, the investigators uncovered no convincing exposures to explain the high rate of breast cancer, both in the workplace or personal risk factors. Although unknown exposures cannot be discounted, it is likely the high rate occurred by chance rather than by a workplace related exposure. To provide further evidence, cancer rates in other ABC workplaces in the country, which would have similar exposure profiles, were calculated and found to be no higher than the general population. Clearly, the evidence uncovered did not suggest a harmful workplace exposure and, therefore, did not warrant the closure of the building. This reaction was probably linked with the initial dissatisfaction of the employees and the media storm and misinformation that accompanied the
The reasons why are unclear, but there is a sharp distinction between male and female thyroid cancer rates - females tend to develop the cancer more by nearly three times as often (“What Are the Risk Factors for Thyroid...
The incidence of oropharyngeal carcinoma has been raised by 10.8% by 2004 since 1991. Distinctively, oroharynx cancer is prevalent biased toward men at least who are 50 years old of age than women. But this brings a new epidemiological concern because vast majority of men who has oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were HPV-positive. For example, the study conducted in, Colorado is experiencing 36.6% increased incidence rate of oropharyngeal caner. The HPV-related oropharyngeal SCC among men enhanced 12 times greater in past 20 years (Ernster et al. 2007). There is a declining rate in laryngeal cancer; however, there is sharp increase trend of cancer in tonsil and fairly stable rate in other HNC related cancer (Ryerson et al. 2008). However, decreased tonsillectomies in United States for past 40 years may be contributing to greater susceptibility of HPV in the tonsils (Ernster et al., 2007).
Thyroid cancer starts in the thyroid gland, which is located under you Adam’s apple at the base of your neck. The described appearance of cancer in the thyroid is nodules, small or large bumps where the thyroid is, that you can feel. According to Cancer.org, about 1 in 20 nodules are cancerous in humans.
"Estimated Exposures and Thyroid Doses Received by the American People from Iodine-131 in Fallout Following Nevada Atmospheric Nuclear Bomb Tests National Cancer Institute (NCI). 2002. June 2004.
...atment is safe because radio-iodine is able to deliver a sufficient amount of radiation to the thyroid allowing to slow the hormone production, and only deliver a small amount to the body. The radiation delivered to the body is far from harmful and is only equivalent to the amount of radiation delivered from two routine diagnostic X-Ray procedures such as a gastrointestinal series ("Educational Material"). The form of treatment has been used for 35 years and over one million patients in the United States have been assisted through the treatment of radioactive iodine ablation. Most physicians will rely on this treatment and recommend 90 percent of their over active thyroid patients to receive the radioactive iodine ("Educational Material"). The treatment, till this day, is known to continuously alleviate the majority of symptoms hyperthyroidism patients have today.
However, all the impacts that the nuclear bomb left to this day are but a shadow of the health effects that were observed during the 1960-1990. The way researchers have quantified the long term health effects from the nuclear bomb, specifically for the significant increase in malignant tumors, is by using a absolute risk function. This function takes the total excess deaths from cancer over 1 million year per rad. The higher the number the greater deaths observed from cancer. Between 1950 – 1954 the absolute deaths from leukemia among nuclear blast survivors was 4.13. The amount of leukemia deaths decreases with the years so that during 1971 – 1974 the absolute death quotient was 0.42. For other cancers there is a different story. For all cancers excluding leukemia there was a disturbing upwards trend during the years following the use of the nuclear bomb. During 1950 – 1954 the absolute death quotient was 1.58 and during the 1971 - 1974 period the quotient was 9.17. These increases in the deaths from cancer during this 25 year period is frightening. The Americans by using this bomb killed thousands of people 10, 20, 30 years down the road from the war. Eliminating chunks of the Japanese work force even decades after the fact. This however, is not the end of the story, children were also victims of this atrocious weapon. As made clear in a study by the Radiation Research Society, the dose specific risk from radiation for breast cancer was greatest in females under the age of 20. This means that not only did America take out a large chunk of adult Japanese, they also afflicted innocent children post war with a terrible
Digital x-rays. If you haven't had dental x-rays for awhile, you are in for a surprise. With digital x-rays, your dental needs are assessed quickly, while you remain calm and comfortable. There no longer are those sharp pieces of film that we used to dread. Digital x-rays will show small areas of decay before they become a problem. Deep cavities, gum disease and even some types of tumors can now be diagnosed and treated early to avoid serious dental health problems.
Thyroid cancer is one of the more uncommon types of cancers in the United States. This type of cancer is three times more likely to affect women rather than men (Sarge 1). Even though, it is a rare type of cancer to contract, women are at a higher risk to contract or have already contracted thyroid cancer. In the novel, Hazel Grace, the main character, is a teenage female who has papillary cancer that has metastasized to the lungs. Thyroid cancer is most commonly found in people over the age of 30 (Petit 1). Only a small portion of cancers are diagnosed a year. According to recent survey, about 11,000 cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed a year, which is not a great deal when compared to other cancers (Thyroid Cancer 1). In addition to this cancer being more prevalent in women, there are certain ethnic groups that have a greater chance of having this...
Wald, M. L. (2010 , January 8). Cancer Risks Debated for Type of X-Ray Scan. Retrieved February 5, 2010 , from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/health/09scanner.html
There are several risk factors for TC including patient history, family history, genetic factors, age, gender, and environmental factors such as ionizing radiation exposure and iodine deficiency [5, 6]. During the first 20 years of a person’s life, exposures to ionizing radiations can be particularly damaging to the thyroid gland. These radiations generate free water or oxygen radicals which directly...
In the dental practice, Sjogren’s syndrome xerostomia is seen at an increasing rate as patients are getting older, subject to polypharmacy, and receiving radiation therapy to treat metastatic disease. This puts dental patients at a higher risk of developing dental caries and spiraling toward an overall decrease in oral health as well as a decrease in general well-being and lifespan. Delay in diagnosis and treatment of Sjogren’s syndrome xerostomia can lead to an earlier incidence of these adverse health
How does the X-ray work? Well first off let me tell you the difference of light rays and X-rays. The light rays are visible light waves and x-rays is a light that is smaller than atoms in your body. You can’t see them with the naked eye like sun rays. X-rays will only pick up items and body parts that are hard and also made of calcium. That light will then project your muscle that would look like a light gray and your bone structure that will be white onto a black piece of radio graphic film.
Radiation therapists work closely with patients to fight cancer. According to Health Care Careers, Oncologists, Dosimetrists and nurses are some of the professionals that a radiation therapist works with while caring for a cancer patient. This group of professionals will determine a specialized treatment plan. The first step usually includes a CT scan performed by a radiologist to find the exact area that needs to be targeted with x-rays. Next, the therapist uses a special machine that emits radiation called a Linear Accelerator. They use this machine during a treatment called external beam therapy. During this process, the Linear Accelerator will project x-rays at targeted cancer cells or tumors. Another therapist will be in a different room monitoring the patient’s viral signs until the procedure is over. The external therapy l...