lung cancer.

i took a chest X-ray, and 3 times of apico lordotic view for a 2 weeks,. it is safe? i scared about my health. some forum says that exposure to xray radiation is harmful in our health . and other say you may have a lung cancer if have large amount radiation.

[vedadhar]

Though frequent radiation exposure may be lead to radiation sickness but it has some limitations on the amount of radiation you have been exposed to in a given time.The standards are as following-
1.In radiation terminology,rad is a unit of absorbed dose and a rem is a unit of any radiation dose to body tissue in terms to its biological effect.Roentgen(R) refers to amount of radiation dose delivered to the body.
2.Routine chest X-rays delivers 0.1-0.2 rem per exposure and final limitation is 1.5 rem per week and 5 rem per year.
3.Substantially radiation may have effects on the body based on the area of the body exposed for investigative purposes during routine Medical investigation of a disease.
4.Most of the severe problems of radiation exposure are due to hematopoitic failure,gastrointestinal damage like ulcers,CNS,secondary infection,pneumonitis.These damages are caused due to over exposure in the corresponding areas of body but not general as a whole body damage like the forums say.
5.Risk factor for lung cancer is only chronic smoking but not over exposure to radiation
6.You are not over exposed to radiation by frequent examinations for a 2 weeks duration.There is nothing to be worried about.If may feel some symptoms like nausea and vomiting but they can be managed well.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? While exposure to ionizing radiation is a risk factor for cancer, you 3 apicolordotic and chest x-ray procedures are not sufficient for you to worry.  All of the imaging diagnostic studies fall into low-level radiation group and the risk is small. Take care and regards.

[chinchan23]

can i undergo for another xray? because i need to have another xray for my employment.