Posted on 11/05/2009 6:46:47 AM PST by Patriot1259
From X-Rays to MRI's you are exposed to radiation in many medical treatments. Certain forms of cancer and other tumors are specifically treated with radiation. What are the potential hazards, and short-term/long-term effects?
MRI does not use radiation - it uses high-strength magnets.
Complex question with complex answers. Too much so for a political forum. May I suggest:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/radiation
When faced with a diagnosis of existing cancer, you can bet that radiation therapy is a more palatable option than almost certain cancer recurrence and quicker death.
SO what is the point of this article, beyond trying to perhaps generate a little fear? What is the big deal? Radiation is not some big mysterious bugaboo.
It is present, at all times, in our environment. It is naturally occurring, both in earthly elements, as well as from cosmic sources. Oh, and even man-made sources. But, whatever the source, the risk is the same.
Like bananas? Salt substitute? They contain Potassium-40. A naturally occurring isotope of Potassium.
Not saying that we should go and bask in the glow of a good radiation source, but, realize that radiation is part of the environment and quit being so danged worried and scared.
Kind of like alcohol. One or two drinks is beneficial, but too much is deleterious.
I learned that it’s actually called NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), but they called it MRI and dropped the Nuclear to not scare people.
Example: A nuclear family does not mean a radioactive family.
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