Can i substitute a CT scan for an X-ray?

Question

I'm a cancer survivor and regularly get CT scans on my pelvis abdomen can chest every 3 months. Can i skip a CT scan once a year and get an x-ray.

Answer 1

Just be aware that x-rays and radiation cause cancer. Guyton & Hall's "Textbook of Medical Physiology" eleventh edition is used in most mainstream medical curriculums. They say on page 41 - "probabability of mutations can be increased manyfold when a person is exposed to certain chemical, physical, or biological factors, including the following:
1. It is well known that ionizing radiation, such as x-rays, gamma rays, and particle radiation from radiocative substances, and even ultraviolet light can predispose individuals to cancer. Ions formed in tussue cells under the influence of such radiation are highly reactive and can rupture DNA strands, thus causing many mutations.
2. Chemical substances of certain types also have a high propensity for causing mutations. It was discovered long ago that various aniline dye deritatives are likely to cause cancer, so that workers in chemical plants producing such substances, if unprotected, have a special predisposition to cancer. Chemical substances that can cause mutation are called carcinogens. That carcinogens that currently cause the greatest number of deaths are those in cigarette smoke. They cause about one quarter of all cancer deaths.
3. Physical irritants also can lead to cancer, such as continued abrasion of the linings of the intestinal tract by some types of food. The damage to the tissues leads to rapid mitotic replacement of the cells. The more rapid the mitosis, the greater the chance for mutation.
4. In many families, there is a strong hereditary tendency to cancer. This results from the fact that most cancers require not one mutation but two or more mutations before cancer occurs. In those families that are particularly predisposed to cancer, it is presumed that one or more cancerous genes are already mutated in the inherited genome. Therefore, far fewer additional mutations must take place in such family members before a cancer begins to grow.
5. In laboratory animals, certain types of viruses can cause some kinds of cancer, including leukemia. This usually results in one of two ways. In the case of DNA viruses, the DNA strand of the virus can insert itself directly into one of the chromosomes and thereby cause a mutation that leads to cancer. In the case of RNA viruses, some of these carry with them an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that causes DNA to be transcribed from the RNA. The transcribed DNA then inserts itself into the animal cell genome, leading to cancer."

Answer 2

A CT scan is an x-ray. It is just a more precise one. So if you are worried about the radiation issues it is a wash. If there are other issues, such as the purging before a pelvic scan, there aren't a lot of options. I would suspect, after a couple of years of no sign of recurrence, you won't have to have the scans as often. A lot of it depends on the type of cancer you had, the stage it was at and the treatment you had. Discuss the issue with your oncologist. They may be willing to scale back the scans if they are causing you problems. Doctors want to be sure they have beaten the cancer so if you don't let them know about problems they are going to be very aggressive.
Good luck

Answer 3

A CT is more accurate in detecting small disease. Ask your doctor to show you the difference and than you decide if the risk of reoccurence. So, much depends on the type of cancer, stage at diagnosis, and whether this was a high or low grade when you make these decisions. After all you are gambling on your life.