Phototherapy and long term risks

[orzo15]

I'm not sure where to put this thread, but basically I have read some studies that phototherapy in babies who had jaundice is associated with an increased risk of childhood cancer. My son had phototherapy and i am spiralling a bit tonight! Has anyone else heard of this? Or can tell me stories of the many children who have had phototherapy and are totally fine?

Why not read some evidence based research….instead of asking here for anecdotes

i have read them, which is exactly why i am writing. I wrote in my op i am spiralling so was just hoping for some people to put my mind at ease

I think one of the studies you’re looking at is probably this one.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-024-03191-7

What is says though is that there is an association between neonatal phototherapy and certain cancers of childhood. There is no evidence that it’s the phototherapy itself that causes the cancers though. The association may actually be because jaundice (and frankly a rough start to life with birth complications), not the phototherapy, may raise the risk of various cancers. The authors also note that the quality of the studies they analysed (it’s a systematic review and meta-analysis) wasn’t across the board great either so to be taken with a pinch of salt.

The absolute risk is tiny, and the studies are all quite low quality. Please don’t worry about this.