Radiation from CT scans may cause over 100,000 new cancer cases, study finds
Ionizing radiation exposure raises concerns
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FOOD Disease
Each year, around 93 million CT scans are performed on about 62 million patients in the US. While these scans are essential for diagnosing a wide range of conditions, they expose patients to ionizing radiation—which the study warns may contribute significantly to future cancer diagnoses.
"If current practices persist, CT-associated cancer could eventually account for 5% of all new cancer diagnoses annually," the researchers noted. The projected risk is especially concerning for children and adolescents, whose developing tissues are more sensitive to radiation. Still, adults—who receive the majority of CT scans—are expected to represent the highest number of potential radiation-induced cancers.
These findings highlight a broader truth: cancer, while sometimes unavoidable, is often influenced by preventable factors in our daily lives. But although cancer remains one of the leading causes of death globally, there are proactive steps we can take to reduce our risk.
Click through to discover surprising habits that could increase your cancer risk—and how to avoid them.
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