Mammogram Radiation

[smurfchops]

I had a mammogram Tuesday and chest X-ray Wednesday. Would that amount of radiation be harmful?

[barry1010]

I haven't a clue but this site is very helpful.
"It does not make any difference whether you have a number of X-rays in one day or spread over many years, the total risk is just the same."

There is also a chart half way down which explains the risks of different types of x-rays. Also, the older you are the safer x-rays are.

https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/media/186430/62-X-ray.pdf

I wouldn't be worried, I'm sure I've had two chest x-rays on the same day.

[Old_Geezer]

One is extremely unlikely to cause an issue, otherwise it wouldn't be done. But those working in some conditions day after day will probably wish to shield themselves, as it accumulates.

[Barsel]

I've had so many x-rays and scans in my lifetime, I'm surprised I don't glow in the dark. :-)
I'm sure they wouldn't have done them on the same day if it was harmful.

[naomi24]

I had four x-rays the other day. I don’t think it’s a problem.

[MissTerious2]

Same here Barsel. I did worry when I was younger. I have had hundreds of xrays in my lifetime. I don't worry any more. None of my multiple health problems have been caused by xrays!

[jno]

my dentist (and nurses) still leave the room before pushing the button, as OG suggests, and operatives in hospitals hide behind a shield. But that's because they may be doing a dozen Xrays every day, every week, every year. One or two's no problem.

[retrocop]

I also have had several x-rays in the same day. No apparent harm was experienced. The only harm I experienced in hospital through excess was contrast dye. Having used contrast dye on one day to position stents when fitted I was given another large dose the next day with a scan to ensure they hadn’t moved. I ended up visiting the nephrology clinic for the next 2 years with acute kidney damage. Still got a pulse though :-)

[jno]

godalmighty retro, shouldn't they have known better? That sounds humungously unprofessional

[retrocop]

Yes we thought so as well. My wife, who was a senior staff nurse at the time, worked out too much and too soon.
I refuse contrast dye now when I have scan and when I explain why I get no argument.

[jno]

sheesh ... stay safe.

[retrocop]

Thank you

[Peter Pedant]

No
deffo no.

It may be 0.1 m Sievert -= milligray give or take

it could be 0.01

I had 40 gy - which 40x the dose ( or 4000 which is mor e like it) and then another 40 gy to my right orbit - which did make me look a bit like Chrisstopher Lee without the money
and I am still here

[Peter Pedant]

out by a thousand - oops!
0.1 mSievert is one tenth of a thousand
so 1 is ten thou millisievert
so 40 gy is four hundred thousand mSiev = 4 m CXR

oh, a gray is a sievert - one is energy emitted
the other is how much HEAT is absorbed
and the heat absorbed may not be a fair rep of the damage as the wavelength has an effect

someone asked

[Peter Pedant]

some of you have mentioned CT scan
this is 10 mS
and is usually referred to as a hundred CXR

[Peter Pedant]

my dentist (and nurses) still leave the room
yeah that is just girlie stuff - "just to be sure" wuthout evidence. A bit like the nitrous oxide spat a few months ago

in fact the magic figure is 6 ft or 2 m. - beyond two metres, the inverse square law means that just about every that goes boo in the night ( from a point source) is now close to zero

MRI scan the 2000 gauss line ( surface of course) is - - - 2m

[jourdain2]

In France, when having a mammogram, I was advised to wear a 'neck protector' which they produced, to avoid any possible thyroid damage. That's about all I know, sorry.
Retrocop - that's dreadful. Glad you and Mrs. Retro are now on the ball.

[jno]

///"just to be sure" wuthout evidence.///

makes sense to me. They could just wait till someone says "The evidence has now come in, and you're doomed". I remember people insisting they intended to go on smoking till it was proved to be bad for them. I'm not sure all of them survived till the evidence came in, but the ones who stopped "just to be sure" got it right.