A woman recently made headlines for exposing her young daughter to the harmful UV rays of a tanning booth. Referred to in news stories as the “tanning mom,” the woman allegedly allowed her five-year-old into the tanning booth with her while she underwent her daily tanning session. The child went to school with badly sunburned skin and was heard bragging that she had gone “tanning” with her mother, leading to the mother’s arrest for child endangerment.

This story raises concerns about the different sources of radiation that we expose ourselves and our children to in our daily lives – without a second thought. Tanned skin is considered attractive in our culture, yet many people do not consider the fact that the artificial rays produced by a tanning booth are just as harmful as the UV rays of the sun. While this woman's "tanerexia" is disturbing, the real concern is that too much exposure to either form of radiation can lead to skin cancer.

Other sources of radiation, though in more limited doses, include the scanning machines used in airports, our cell phones and other handheld electronic devices. More radiation is emitted by powerful scanning machines used in the health care field. Some of these, like x-ray machines, CT Scans and PET Scans, use moderate to large doses of radiation with each scan. There are medical scans available that don’t use radiation, such as MRI and ultrasound. These alternative choices may provide your doctor with the information needed to diagnose or track your health concerns, so ask your doctor if these are an option.

The risk from radiation is cumulative, and we should only be exposed to a certain amount throughout the course of our lives. In other words, it all adds up, and that isn’t good. So, the next time you consider lying in a tanning bed to brown your skin for an upcoming occasion, or wearing the ear piece from your cell phone all day, you might want to think again.

News headlines have raised concern that Americans are getting too much radiation. You may assume this is from our over-exposure to the sun or tanning beds, airport scanners, microwave ovens, cell phones and handheld electronic devices. However, while statistics show that Americans get more radiation than people in other countries, it isn’t from any of these prime suspects. Our higher radiation levels are reportedly coming from the over-prescribing of X-rays and some other types of medical imaging scans in the U.S. Why worry? If you get too much radiation, even in moderate doses over time, you have a higher cancer risk.

Are you getting too many X-rays?

Part of the problem may be that your primary physician, dentist and health care specialists may not have a comprehensive record of your medical scan history. And, all of them may use scanning technology to diagnose or track health issues. Further, many radiology centers don’t adjust the dose of scanning machines to suit your age, gender and size – they employ a one-size-fits-all approach, over which your physician likely has no control.

How much is too much?

A good general guideline to follow to lower your radiation exposure from scans is that provided by radiologist Dr. Steven Birnbaum. CT scans deliver the highest dose of radiation per test, so you should be most vigilant about those. If you’ve had 10 or more CT scans, or you are under the age of 40 and you have had five CT scans, you should not have more.  A child should have even fewer CT scans, and only when necessary.

PET scans are next on the list in terms of radiation dose per test, with mammograms and dental X-rays further down the list. Chest X-rays represent a lower dose or risk of radiation per test, though the number of these you receive should be limited as well.

What you can do

Since it can be difficult for your medical care providers to coordinate or access all your medical files, it might be helpful for you to keep your own record of dental and medical X-rays, including mammograms, CT scans and PET scans. You can also request that your radiation dose be limited and recorded on your image film.

If you feel you have already had too many X-rays or scans and your doctor wants to refer you for another, you may have the option to request an ultrasound or MRI as an alternative. These scans don’t use radiation and can be very effective in providing the diagnostic information your doctor needs.

MRI: Often used as an alternative to a CT scan, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) doesn’t use ionizing radiation. MRI may not provide the clearest images of bone structures, but it does provide very detailed images of soft tissues and structures – with no risk from radiation.

Ultrasound: Ultrasound uses ultrasonic energy to safely provide images of internal organs, muscles and tendons, as well as fetus development during prenatal care. It uses no radiation, and the potential side effects from ultrasound are generally limited to some heat to soft tissue and increased inflammatory response.

Click here to learn more about diagnostic scans or to find a scanning facility near you!

Sources:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2010-06-07-yourhealth07_ST_N.htm

You’ve seen or heard these acronyms before – CT or CAT Scan, MRI and PET. These are all common terms for medical scans that have become the gold standard for detecting hidden problems in the body. Although most people are familiar with the use of basic x-ray technology in dentistry or medical settings, a wider range of advanced medical scans are being used with increased frequency as diagnostic detectives.

Many medical scans can identify health problems or changes that might not otherwise be detectable.  Some scan images are quite detailed, and are therefore a helpful tool in uncovering underlying causes of symptoms, or tracking the recovery progress after a patient’s treatment for disease. When are scans necessary, and how do the different types of scans detect health issues that aren’t otherwise discernible?

When Scans Are Necessary

While some doctors recommend medical scans as part of a general screening for patients who are healthy, most doctors only recommend them as a secondary diagnostic measure to detect problems. For example, if preliminary medical tests indicate the presence of disease, your doctor may refer you for a scan before making a final diagnosis. If you have already been treated for a health problem such as cancer or tumor removal, a scan can help reveal if the disease has been completely eradicated or if there is a recurrence.

Scans: How they Work

Medical scans use a variety of materials and equipment to provide images of the interior of your body. Here is a brief overview of scans and how they work:

CT or CAT – Short for computed tomography or computed axial tomography, a CT scan is a radiological test that provides sectional images of different body areas (brain, lungs, heart, etc.) to reveal changes or abnormalities, such as cancers or tumors.

MRI – Unlike CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not use ionizing radiation. MRI uses magnetization with radio frequency to construct a 2D or 3D scanned image that shows high contrast between different soft tissues in your body.

PET – Positron emission tomography (PET) tracks the functional processes at work in the body, revealing any areas that have higher-than-normal activity of molecules, such as cancer molecules. Abnormal activity is revealed via concentrations of brightly colored areas.

Click here to find a scanning facility or to learn more about the different health issues that scans can detect!

Sources:

http://www.comstocksmag.com/Archive/0206_SR_Mens-Health--Too-Much-Information-.aspx

If you have ever passed through the security area of an airport or had a complete dental exam, you have likely encountered scanning and x-ray equipment. Scanning technology has become so advanced that it can detect a wider range of health problems than ever before. Scans are helpful in identifying underlying health problems that cannot otherwise be revealed through a regular medical exam. If you have symptoms that bear further investigation, your physician may refer you for diagnostic imaging, such as an MRI, CT or PET scan. What exactly are these scans, and which health problems are they used to detect?

The MRI

An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is useful in detecting cancers, structural abnormalities, and health problems in the brain, muscles and heart. An MRI scan uses magnets rather than x-rays to produce a clear, high-contrast image, and there is no radiation involved. The magnets cause atoms in the body to produce emissions, which are detected by a scanner.

If you have been referred for an MRI, you will be asked to lie still on an exam table that slides into a narrow scanning cylinder. The scanning process typically takes 30 minutes.

The CAT Scan or CT Scan

A computed axial tomography (CAT), or CT scan, produces a series of very detailed cross-sectional views of bones and all types of body tissue, including muscles and blood vessels. A CT scan can show the exact location and size of a tumor, if present, as well as its relationship to surrounding tissue. It is usually the preferred method for detecting cancers and guiding biopsies and related treatments.

CT scans can also be used to detect pulmonary embolisms and aortic aneurysms, as well as vascular diseases that can lead to stroke or kidney failure. They can help diagnose injuries to skeletal structures and can detect congenital malformations of the heart and other organs, identify injuries to internal organs, or assess results of organ transplants.

For a CT scan, you will typically lie motionless on a CT exam table while a large scanning tube rotates around the table, as the table passes through the tube. The imaging tube scans so quickly – less than 30 minutes – that even children rarely need to be sedated to remain still during a CT scan. A contrast material may be administered via mouth or IV before your scan.

The PET Scan

A PET scan, or Positron Emission Topography (PET), is currently used to detect forms of cancer that are not easily identifiable via other scanning technologies. While CT scans detect structural changes in the body, PET scans detect functional changes in the body. A PET scan can detect differences in chemical and metabolic activity in the body using positively charged particles (radioactive positrons) that show up on a colored PET image. PET scans can pick up even the smallest areas of activity, making them good for detecting cancer cells. Cancer cells typically divide more rapidly than other cells, so they will show more metabolic activity than other cells.

If you have been referred for a PET scan, you will be asked to lie on an exam table that will pass through a tube-shaped scanner that is similar to a CT scanner. A radioisotope tracer will be administered via inhalation or IV. The PET equipment will continue scanning the tracer while it is active in your body, which can be 30 minutes or longer, depending on the size of the body area that is being scanned.

Click here to find a scanning facility near you and to learn more about different medical scans.

February has been designated National Cancer Prevention Month – a good reminder to get screened for cancer as part of your routine physical exam. Did you know that one in two men, and one in three women, will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime? With these statistics, it is important to know your risks, early warning signs to be on the lookout for, and which tests you should consider for cancer screening.

Early Detection is Critical

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and his approach can very aptly be applied to cancer screening, early detection and prevention. From skin cancer to breast cancer, early detection can mean the difference between a minor blip on your health radar – such as the removal of a mole or cyst – and a major health scare that requires more extensive or invasive treatments.  

While some forms of cancer cannot be prevented, outcomes can be significantly improved through early detection and timely treatment. If a patient is diagnosed with cancer in its earliest phase, or Stage 1, the potential for effective treatment and a positive outcome is greater. For example, if a woman is treated for Stage 1 breast cancer, she has a greater than 90 percent chance of survival for at least five years post-treatment. If, however, a woman is treated for breast cancer after it has reached Stage 4, she has a less than 30 percent chance of survival five years post-treatment.

Scans and Tests

You are the first line of defense against cancer, and can take an active role in educating and screening yourself.

What Women Can Do:

•    Conduct regular breast self-exams

•    Examine skin for new or irregular moles

•    Schedule annual mammography tests and pelvic exams

•    Consider getting an annual colonoscopy

•    Ask your dentist to include evaluations for oral cancer during your routine exams



What Men Can Do:

•    Schedule annual prostate-specific antigen tests and digital rectal exams

•    Conduct regular self-exams of skin for new or changing moles

•    Get an annual colonoscopy

•    Ask your dentist to include evaluations for oral cancer during routine exams

If you spot one of the early warning signs of cancer, schedule a visit with your doctor. She may recommend that you get some additional tests of your blood, urine and other body fluids for preliminary screening. Based on those results, she may refer you for a scan to rule out or diagnose cancer. Before you get a scan, it is helpful to know the different types of scans available and how they work.

Here are some of the scans typically used to test for cancer:

CT Scan (Computed Tomography) – This scan uses an x-ray machine that is linked to a computer to take a series of pictures of your organs. You may receive a contrast material (a dye) to make the pictures easier to read.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – Detailed images of different areas of your body are made via the use of a strong magnet linked to a computer. The images can be viewed on a monitor or printed on film.

Ultrasound – This device emits sound waves that people cannot hear. The sound waves bounce off tissues inside your body like an echo, and a computer uses these echoes to create an image called a sonogram.

Bone Scan – A radioactive substance called a “tracer” is injected into a vein in your arm. Over a period of a few hours, the tracer travels through your bloodstream and into your bones. The scan uses a camera to take pictures of the tracer in your bones, showing areas that have little or no absorption of tracer. These areas are referred to as “dark” or “cold” spots, and can indicate certain types of cancer.

Mammogram – Women typically receive two types of mammograms during an annual visit, x-ray mammography (using film) and digital mammography (using a monitor), to help detect early signs of irregular lumps or tissue.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography/PET) – You are given an injection of a small amount of radioactive material that can then be traced as it travels through your body. The PET takes a series of images that capture when the material reacts with high chemical activity. Cancer cells can show up as “high activity” areas in these images.

Risk Factors for Cancer 

It is important to know your risks for cancer and that many of the risk factors for cancer are avoidable. If you have one or more of the risk factors for cancer, it does not mean you will get it. Some people are more sensitive to the known risk factors than others, and many people who have risk factors never develop cancer. While experts cannot always predict why some people develop cancer and others do not, they emphasize that it is important to know the risk factors that increase your chances for developing cancer. Some of the most common risk factors for cancer are: 

Your age – As you grow older, your risk of developing cancer grows higher. While children and young adults can get cancer, most cancers occur in people over the age of 65.

Your genes – A family history of cancer may mean you are more likely to develop it. However, multiple cases of cancer in a family can sometimes be a matter of pure chance.

Your diet – If you don’t get physical exercise, are overweight, and have a poor diet, you are more likely to develop cancer. 

Alcohol – If you have more than one or two drinks per day for many years, you may be at increased risk for developing certain cancers.

Tobacco –More than 180,000 Americans die from cancer related to tobacco use every year. Whether you smoke it, snuff it or chew it, a tobacco habit can lead to cancer. Those who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk for cancer.

UV exposure – Ultraviolet radiation, whether it comes from the sun, tanning booths or sunlamps, causes skin damage that can lead to skin cancer.

Radiation exposure – Exposure to ionizing radiation that comes from radioactive fallout, radon gas, x-rays and other sources can cause cell damage that leads to cancer. People who have worked in or around nuclear power plants, atomic weapons testing, or mines or those who have receive high-dose radiation therapy may be at increased risk for cancer. (The risk of cancer from low-dose x-rays used in dental and medical offices is relatively low.)

Chemical exposure – If you work in the chemical industry or are a painter or construction worker, you may have been exposed to toxins such as asbestos, vinyl chloride, benzene, nickel or cadmium, which can increase your risk for cancer.

Viruses and bacteria – A history of certain illnesses may increase your risk for developing cancer. If you have had Hepatitis B or C, an Epstein-Barr infection or the Herpes 8 virus, you may be at increased risk for some types of cancer.

Hormones – Many women choose to undergo hormone therapy during menopause. Unfortunately, therapy that involves increases in estrogen or progestin may increase the risk of breast cancer and other medical conditions. A woman considering hormone therapy to manage the symptoms of menopause should discuss the potential risks with her doctor.

Early Warning Signs

Your best defense against cancer is being able to spot potential early warning signs. If you are vigilant and notice the signs early, you can discuss your concerns with your doctor, who can recommend further tests or scans to rule out a serious problem. Here are a few things to look for:

•    Any pronounced or unusual bleeding or discharge

•    A lump, hardness or thickening anywhere on your body

•    A wound or soreness that does not heal within a reasonable time

•    A chronic or persistent change in your bowel or bladder functions

•    A chronic or persistent sore throat, cough or hoarseness

•    Any changes in a wart or mole

•    Difficulty swallowing or persistent indigestion

To find a provider offering cancer screening scans click here.

Source:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes

A regular medical checkup might not catch every health problem. Even an X-ray can miss things, especially if there's a problem with your internal organs or arteries. A CT scan, on the other hand, is a great method for doctors to do a true full body scan. If you meet certain risk factors, a CT scan should be part of your new year's checkup. Early detection of disease is the best means of increasing survival rates.

CT Scan Procedure

Most CT scans are performed the same way. The patient lies on a flat table, which moves into a large body-length tube. The machine then creates a full body image, with detailed scans of internal organs. Sometimes the patient is injected with a contrast dye in order to give a better view of arteries or certain organs.

Heart Scan

A heart scan is useful for men over 35 and women over 40 if they have high blood pressure or cholesterol, or a genetic history of heart disease. A heart scan mainly detects calcification of the arteries and can also detect heart cancer.

Lung Scan

A CT scan of the lungs is recommended for smokers, workers who have been exposed to asbestos and others who meet certain risk factors for lung cancer. The scan looks for early stage lung cancer.

CT Angiography (CTA)

A CT angiography is a scan that examines the large veins and arteries throughout the body, including inside the brain. The scan looks for diseases of the aorta and pulmonary arteries, the carotid artery, kidney vessels and other key vessels. A contrast dye is injected for this scan. People at risk for conditions that involve the blood vessels should opt for a CTA.

Brain Scan

A brain scan is recommended for anyone suffering from symptoms of a mild stroke or other conditions. Headaches, confusion, sudden behavioral changes, or a suspected aneurism or bleeding in the brain are all warning signs that call for a head scan. The CT scan can provide detailed images of brain tissue and bone structure to help in a diagnosis.

If you are interested in receiving more information about scans you should consider, click here to find a scan specialist in your area!

The verdict has been in for years; preventative scans save lives. Getting a yearly checkup and screening not only catches disease or chronic illness in the early stages, but it also gives you the best chance of surviving and overcoming it. Everything from your age to your gender or race can impact which screenings you individually choose to have done. Here are just a few examples of preventative scans that can potentially prolong your life:

Heart Screening

Heart problems take years to develop and often show very few symptoms before things get serious. Screening for heart problems with a cardiac CT or carotid IMT scans can give you a jump-start on potential medical or lifestyle changes.

Cardiac CT

A cardiac CT scan uses a contrasting dye (usually iodine-based). This is injected in a vein, and then a CT imaging scan of the heart is done. This can produce a 3D image of the heart that can show potential blockages, so your doctor can predict whether a major cardiac event is in your future.

Carotid IMT (CIMT)

This is a test that can detect hardening of the arteries. It’s a noninvasive test that uses ultrasound to detect the thickness of your arteries. Doctors can then analyze the results and tell whether you’re at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Colon Screening

Preventative scans for colon health can reduce your risk of developing colon cancer by up to 90 percent. Everyone is recommended to get either an optical or virtual colonoscopy once every 10 years, starting at age 50 (age 45 for African Americans).

Optical Colonoscopy

A flexible tube is used to look at the inner lining of the large intestine and colon. This allows doctors to detect polyps and other problems early, before they have a chance to develop into cancer.

Virtual Colonoscopy

This is a cheaper and less invasive method of colon scanning. The doctor makes a 3D image of the colon and large intestine using a CT scan. It’s effective at detecting more than 90 percent of all polyps, which can potentially develop into cancer.

There are a number of other screenings you should talk with your doctor about. For example, bone density scans are recommended for older women, and prostate screenings for men. These preventative scans can make a world of difference in your quality of life as you age.

To find out more about scans that could benefit you, and to find a local specialist in your area, click here!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and those pink ribbons serve as a visual reminder for us to pay attention to our breasts. Besides self-exams, one way we can monitor the health of our breasts is through the use of various medical imaging procedures.

Mammogram

A mammogram is an X-ray of your breast. By looking at such images, a doctor can detect any abnormal growth among healthy breast tissues and determine the stage of the cancer. If performed regularly, cancer can be detected in the earliest stages while it is still treatable and treatment is less costly. Consequently, the American Cancer Society recommends getting regular mammograms starting at the age of 40. If breast cancer runs in your family, make sure you let your doctor know since you might need to get screened earlier and more frequently.

Ultrasound

If there is a question or concern about a lump or specific area of the breast, your doctor may want you do have an ultrasound. High-frequency sound waves can show whether the lump is solid or filled with fluid. Oftentimes, an ultrasound will be used in conjunction with a mammogram

Breast MRI

A breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) produces hundreds of images of the breasts, shot from various directions. It can detect lesions not found previously found by a mammogram or ultrasound. If you have a family history of breast cancer, or if you are recovering from breast cancer, your doctor might recommend a breast MRI along with your annual mammogram.

To find out more about medical imaging options and procedures, click here to find a specialist in your area.

Many people procrastinate receiving their colon screenings because they dread the discomfort associated with traditional colonoscopy. But new technology allows individuals to be screened for colon cancer and other life-threatening concerns safely and comfortably by undergoing a virtual colonoscopy.

Virtual colonoscopy is essentially a CT scan of the body, focused on the lower intestinal area. As with other CT scans, patients will lie on a table and the CT scanning machine takes images of the patient's body. The images are then combined by a computer to create a 3-D rendering of the intestinal area, allowing physicians to examine the area for polyps with minimal invasion to the patient. There are many benefits to virtual colonoscopy:

1. Easier for patients to tolerate, especially elderly patients who are ill or frail, since no anesthesia, pain relievers, or recovery time is needed


2. Physicians have a view of the body outside of the colon, allowing them to discover other major medical problems that may exist


3. Most patients will not have any areas of concern, and can be spared having to undergo the more invasive traditional colonoscopy

Virtual colonoscopy provides a lower-cost, effective alternative to traditional colonoscopy for many people. Learning more about the benefits of virtual colonoscopy has given many patients the confidence to get screened for colon cancer, one of the most treatable and curable cancers if diagnosed early.