Shocking Study: New Breast Cancer Tests Causes Cancer

By: David W Freeman
Topics: Health Care ,; News ,; Disease ,; Research

(iStockphoto

(CBS) Do the diagnostic tests doctors use to detect breast cancer actually cause cancer?

That's the shocking finding of a new study of some of the newest, most sophisticated imaging techniques, including breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) and positron emission tomography (PEM).

While the new techniques can be very helpful in diagnosing some tricky cases of breast cancer, they involve the injection of radioactive material, which increase the risk of developing cancer.

Just how risky are the new procedures?

"A single breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) or positron emission mammography (PEM) examination carries a lifetime risk of inducing fatal cancer greater than or comparable to a lifetime of annual screening mammography starting at age 40," the study's author, Dr. R. Edward Hendrick, clinical professor of radiology at the University of Colorado-Denver, School of Medicine in Aurora, said in a written statement.

Dr. Hendrick reviewed recent studies on radiation doses from procedures that involve radioactive material to estimate the lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer and death.

It's no secret that digital mammography, the standard diagnostic test for breast cancer, delivers a small amount of radiation. But Hendrick estimates that a single BSGI exam involves a lifetime risk of fatal cancer 20 to 30 times greater in women aged 40 years.

The lifetime risk of a single PEM is 23 times greater than that of digital mammography, according to his work.

In addition, while mammography only slightly increases a woman's risk for breast cancer, BSGI and PEM may increase the risk of cancers in other organs as well, including the intestines, kidneys, bladder, gallbladder, uterus, ovaries and colon.

The new tests are used primarily in women with dense breasts that are difficult to examine with other techniques.

"The primary tool for breast cancer screening is still mammography, which has a very low radiation dose and a very low lifetime risk of cancer induction," Dr. Hendrick said. "The risk of missing a breast cancer because mammography is not done far outweighs the tiny risk of mammography causing a breast cancer."

The study was published in the journal Radiology.

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by adriabold May 21, 2011 6:15 AM EDT: Well I don't believe <b><a href="http://www.womenhealthzone.com/womens-health/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-causes-and-risk-factors">breast cancer causes</a></b> can be occurred through this way. Do you have anyone complaining about getting it transmitted through this way. Please let us know more information with more genuine cases. Thanks a lot in advance.; Reply to this comment


by johnstonj1 August 25, 2010 2:36 PM EDT: The headline here and general content of this CBS story in my opinion is taken out of context and rather overstated in comparison to the original article. While it is true that BSGI and PEM have a higher radiation dose than screening mammography and increased attributable risk, the same can be said of a CT of the chest over a 2 view chest x-ray (actually a fairly similar comparison in terms of effective dose and increased risk and ordered thousands of times a day in the U.S.). The subject of attributable risk of cancer from medical imaging procedures is rather complex and not as easily translated as the CBS story presents. I certainly agree with the importance of educating the general public on the risks associated with medical imaging but the patient should discuss the benefits vs risks of each imaging exam with his/her physician and decide accordingly. As with any medical imaging exam that uses ionizing radiation, there are benefits versus risks and when used appropriately, these studies can provide very valuable and important diagnostic information. It would be a shame for a patient to forgo a medically necessary BSGI or PEM because of a fear of the radiation dose and then discover too late a cancer that may have otherwise been detected early on. I think the real take home message of the article should be two fold. First, that physicians be aware of the radiation dose delivered with each exam he/she may order and order appropriately and accordingly. Secondly, that patients be aware of the radiation dose they receive and make decisions in concert with their physician.; Reply to this comment


by hanleymike August 24, 2010 10:16 PM EDT: www.xrayrisk.com is an independent educational website that provides information on radiation and cancer risk including an online calculator that lets you calculate radiation dose and estimate cancer risk from CT scans, x-rays and procedures. The site also allows users to log-in and track their imaging history.; Reply to this comment