Hi, Esther.
If you MUST get CT and/or PET scans to see how you are doing, then at
least get them as RARELY as possible. From all the research I have
done, it appears that just ONE full-body CT scan delivers perhaps as
much radiation as 1600 chest x-rays. I am basing that on the fact
that I read that an abdominal CT scan delivers as much radiation as
800 chest x-rays!
I happen to think a doctor who has to use regular CT scans on a
person---say, 1 every 2 months, or even more than that, is a klutz---
someone who has no idea how to judge how a client is doing other than
irradiating them!
There is an oncologist in California who is able to judge how his
clients are doing by their mood, their eyes, their skin, and so on.
Essentially, if a client is "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed," he feels
no need to do a CT or a PET scan.
I hope you will share your concerns with your oncologist, Esther, and
that you will ask him if he knows how much radiation there is in the
specific scan or scans he wants to do on you. If he does not know,
then tell him to find out!
Best wishes,
Elliot
