How many X-Rays and CT scans have you had?

[pippapipps]

Feeling a bit anxious after a recent CT scan after the doctor on about risk of cancer in future!
This is the second CT scan with contrast dye I've had in 10 years plus I've had three chest X-rays in two and a half years.. can remember at least two more chest X-Rays from when I was younger..could be another one or two maybe but I can't remember
Anyone else had a few? And are you worried about the radiation/cancer risk?

That doesn't sound like an excessive number particular. I've only had one CT scan but I've had MRIs plus lots of x rays, at least 10 in the last five years. My four year old has had two already!

But no, I don't worry at all. If there are medical reasons behind it, why wouldn't you get a diagnosis or treatment in the here and now? There are lots more factors that increase cancer risk, mainly lifestyle related.

@mynameiscalypso I've also had an MRI scan and many ultrasounds but as far as I know I don't think there's an radiation risk with them?

4 or 5 head CT scans over 20 years
Many X-rays in my teens (had braces and scoliosis so I got zapped quite a bit in the 80s).
3 chest x rays in the past 10 years.
I’ve had 4 contrast MRIs, though the risk there isn’t radiation, it’s the contrast which isn’t great for thyroid, I believe.

Still here. Not glowing in the dark yet.

I’ve had quite a few, but most are because got cancer.

I’ve had many CT scans with contrast and X-rays. I’ve also had a nuclear scan. I’m not worried about having had them. They were all necessary. They don’t do them frivolously, so I wouldn’t be concerned.

4 CT scans
Lost count of MRIs, at least 7
About 10 X-rays

Too many to count, I had 8 operations on the same bit of my leg all in a very short space of time and after each one they would do an X-ray, then every time I saw the surgeon for check ups then I had another operation on the same leg so that was more scans/x rays. I have some head CT's, MRIs on my kidneys/heart/liver. I'm under vascular and just had another CT and x Ray done of my legs and hips and I'm not even 30 yet!

Did you know there is a minute radiation risk eating certain types of nuts ?
And omitted from certain rocks ?

I've had 3 chest x rays
USS once
MRI twice

Not concerned at all

Must be the only person I know who has never had a scan or an MRI.

Not being funny but unless the dr was a radiologist then they aren’t an expert on radiation and what counts as high dose. What you’ve had sounds far from excessive. ct and X-ray requests are vetted to make sure they are being appropriately requested before they can go ahead. That means the risk to you of not having it done (in terms of missing something that needs treatment) is greater than the risks from having it done.

You are correct that no radiation is involved in ultrasound or MRI, although any contrast used can sometimes cause allergic reactions. Radiographers have a duty to make sure that your consent to any procedure is informed and that you understand any risks, however small. All such procedures go through a thorough vetting process by trained and experienced professionals and it must be decided that the benefit of any such procedure to the patient must outweigh the risk. All doses to patients are recorded and checked. This is regulated under legislation known as IR(ME)R 2017. If you have any concerns please ask the radiographer undertaking the procedure or the radiologist/consultant who has rferred you for it and they will be able to reassure. For comparison, you will received more radition taking long haul flight from solar radiation than you would receive from a chest xray.

Non until i turned 50. Then loads
Breast cancer. Hip issue .neck issue

Getting old is great

I’ve had dental x-rays every few years (v low risk)
bsck x-ray aged around 23
X-ray on hand about 15 years ago, chest x-ray 18 month ago
chest CT about w contrast about 3 years ago due to heart issues
head CT in Nov cos I blacked out/potential seizure (in a&e).
Mamogram and then follow ups due to recall 20 months ago.
In my 50s.
Most if my imaging has been in last 5 years - had MRIs too but they’re not radiation.

I was more concerned when every time I went to my private dentist they Xrayed - I had 4 in a year once! When I left (they charged £100 per Xray) they refused to send my file to my new dentist saying they were their property - had to get legal on them.
Had x1 head Xray
x3 chest Xray
x1 hand Xray
X1 chest CT with contrast (which really hurt when the die went around the lung and I had to hold breath - anyone know what that is about? Stopped as soon as it flushed through).

I think I need another CT privately in the next 6 months to see if there is improvement but am not worried as the hospital appears to have lost the first one, so I need to know what is going on more than worry about radiation risk.

Thanks everyone for your replies makes me feel less anxious about the risk..of course to add to my list I have had lots of dental -Rays didn't think to add them..more anxious/worried about the CT scans I've had and the many chest X-Rays
Have had 4/5 mammograms between my thirties and reaching my early fifties..is there a radiation risk too with these? I never thought there was but I see someone mentioned a mammogram here on the thread?

Hi, I recently had an assignment based around mammograms. It is estimated that if a woman attends every routine screening better ages of 50 and 70 the chance of a radiation induced cancer is between 1 in 7000 to 1 in 14000. However this is around 150 times fewer than the lives saved by routine screening. In sum you are far far more likely to be diagnosed and treated for breast cancer thanks to screening than being adversely affected by the screening.

A chest X-ray is a low dose examination. Equivalent to visiting Cornwall for about 2 days, which I'm sure you would think twice about doing.

Mammograms are X-rays, yes they have radiation. Slightly more than a chest X-ray but still low dose. And this should be explained to you before any imaging takes place so you can give informed consent.

A CT is higher dose, but again the risks vs benefits have been carefully weighed up and vetted.

Hmmm. Only counting those with ionising radiation: About 10 plain xrays. Barium meal and follow through. Barium enema. I think 5 CTs (3 chest, one sinuses, one neck). Oh, and a nuclear medicine thyroid scan.

Not particularly worried. They were needed. And the risk is still pretty low.

I had more than you listed in your op @pippapipps within a 12 month period. Didn't have them for funsies, they were all clinically indicated. The risk of missing what was/might have been found was far greater than the risk from radiation.

Not worried really,last week I had a brain mri and X-rays within 1 1/2 hours.
feel there is more a risk not having the scans

Hmmm about two x-rays, two MRIs, one CT scan. I will probably need more CT scans in the future due to a heart condition but they won't do it frequently, maybe every 3-4 years. The risk is pretty low though.

(If we include dental xrays, I've had bloody dozens of them!)

From what I can remember;

14 CT scans
3 MRIs
4 PET scans
5 X rays

The numbers are likely to be higher, but they’re the ones I actively remember and can count. I’ve had cancer in the past, hence the high numbers.

As PP said, I would much rather be alive and cancer free than worry about radiation risk from the scans. Even with the PET scans, I had to avoid children for a while because of all the radiation involved but would still rather have had the scan.

I worry about this sort of thing also especially as I had lots of pelvic X-rays as a small child due to being born with hip dysplasia and I imagine back in the 70’s they never worried too much about x-raying children (MIL was xrayed in 1972 whilst pregnant with dh!).

In my adult life I’ve had 2 chest x rays endless dental x rays, 1 mammogram, a ct scan with contrast and a bile acid malabsorption scan. They told me at the ct scan that it was the equivalent radiation exposure of a few long haul flights.

I also need a dexa scan soon, not sure how much radiation comes from
those?

I’ve also had 2 mri’s and endless US scans.

This chart is interesting https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ionising-radiation-dose-comparisons/ionising-radiation-dose-comparisons

No one seems to worry about the radiation effects of visiting/living in Cornwall!

I used to know the doctor who discovered the negative effects of repeated exposure low level radiation.

The key is repeated exposure increasing risk rather than the odd X-ray here and there. Also going up in a plane exposes you to more radiation than some X-rays so if you are really worried start using the train more for your holidays.