CT scan fear due to radiation & BRCA1

[AOMum14]

Hello,

I'm not sure if this is the correct group to post in so if it's not, I apologise.

I found out a few years ago that I am a BRCA1 carrier and have yearly checks to make sure I'm ticking along nicely. (BRCA1 means I have a lifetime increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer- 80% and 60%).

Yesterday I stumbled across someone stating that CT scans increase lifetime risk of cancer, especially when receiving one as a child. I then remembered that I had a CT scan on my chest when I was 15 (they thought I had a collapsed lung but it was actually asthma). I don't remember anyone sharing that this came with risk and I didn't know I was a BRCA carrier at the time.

My fear now is that I had radiation to my chest. That they wouldn't have given me one had they known about BRCA. It was also 15 years ago and I wonder whether they knew less about the risks then.

Any reassurence is much appeciated. I've messaged my genetic counsellor but in the meantime, I'm angry at myself for giving myself 'extra' risk while I'm already high risk. I'm hoping to have preventative surgery in the next 5 years but I feel like my body is a ticking time bomb.

Many thanks I'm advance

Many people who already have breast cancer have CT scans as part of their treatment, and if it was increasing risk of cancer coming back etc I don't think they would use them so readily, so I really wouldn't worry. I had one recently as part of the planning for radiotherapy. I also had one earlier in the year on my chest before I knew I had breast cancer for something else. At the time, I must admit, I was terribly upset about having it because of what I perceived to be the risk, but honestly one CT scan is nothing over a lifetime. I remember my doctor friend telling me that at the time.