X-ray Q&As
Published by Bupa's health information team, July 09.
Answers to questions about xray
This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.
- My child needs an X-ray - can I go with him or her?
- If I have lots of X-ray images done, will my risk of getting cancer increase?
- I'm not sure whether I'm pregnant. Is it safe for the baby to have an X-ray?
My child needs an X-ray - can I go with him or her?
Yes, it's very likely that you will be able to be with your child in the X-ray room.
Explanation
If you have a young child who needs to have an X-ray image taken, you will be allowed to go with them into the X-ray room. You may be asked to wear a protective lead apron so that you can remain close to your child while the X-ray image is being done.
If there is any chance that you could be pregnant, it may not be possible for you to go with your child into the X-ray room. This is because X-rays may be harmful to your unborn baby.
In some situations, and with your consent, your child may need to be given a sedative to help him or her lie still enough for the X-ray image to be taken.
Further information
- The Royal College of Radiologists
www.rcr.ac.uk
Sources
- Information for patients having an X-ray. The Royal College of Radiologists. www.rcr.ac.uk, accessed 5 February 2009
- X-rays. How safe are they? Health Protection Agency. www.hpa.org.uk, accessed 28 January 2009
If I have lots of X-ray images done, will my risk of getting cancer increase?
Having an X-ray does slightly increase the chance of you getting cancer many years later. However, the benefits of having an X-ray image should outweigh this exceedingly small risk. It's worth remembering that one of the most important uses of X-rays is to look for cancer that can't easily be found otherwise.
Explanation
You have a one in three chance of getting cancer even if you have never had an X-ray image taken. The radiation from X-rays only adds to your underlying risk of cancer by a very small amount. However, for many routine X-ray tests, including those of the chest or an arm or leg, this increase in risk is negligible.
You're exposed to natural background radiation all the time. Cosmic radiation reaches the planet from outer space, radioactive material is in the ground and there is even radioactive gas (radon) in the air. The amount of radiation you're exposed to during a chest X-ray is the equivalent of a few days background radiation. Having X-ray images taken of your abdomen, hip or back area exposes you to more radiation, but the increase in cancer risk is still small. It doesn't make a difference whether you are exposed to lots of X-rays in one day or if they are spread over many years.
How many X-rays images you need to have depends on your medical condition. Your doctor will make sure that any you have will provide useful information for your treatment. This means that the benefit of each X-ray image will outweigh the very small increase in cancer risk that it causes. Your doctor and X-ray department are required by law to to protect you from any unneccesary X-ray radiation.
You should let your doctor know if you have had any other X-ray images or scans recently, as they may mean that an additional test isn't needed. If there is a chance that you're pregnant, make sure you tell the person carrying out the procedure beforehand.
Further information
- Health Protection Agency
www.hpa.org.uk
Sources
- X-rays. How safe are they? Health Protection Agency. www.hpa.org.uk, accessed 28 January 2009
- What is the maximum number of x-ray examinations that are advisable in one year? Health Protection Agency. www.hpa.org.uk, accessed 28 January 2009
I'm not sure whether I'm pregnant. Is it safe for the baby to have an X-ray?
There is a very small risk to a baby if exposed to X-ray radiation in the womb. Therefore, X-ray procedures aren't usually done on pregnant women.
Explanation
A baby in the womb may be more sensitive to X-ray radiation than an adult. Being exposed to high doses of X-rays while growing in the womb can slightly increase the risk that all children have of developing cancer. However, the amount of radiation that you're exposed to from most types of X-ray procedure will cause no substantial risk to your baby.
It's worth bearing in mind that the X-ray beams used in medicine are focused on the area of the body being examined. This means that if you need an X-ray image of your head or chest, there is very little exposure to your abdomen and pelvis. Lead shields, which block X-rays, can also be used to protect your abdomen and pelvis.
Where possible women of childbearing age who need high-dose X-ray tests (such as a CT scan of the pelvis) will be booked in to have them during the first 10 days of their menstrual cycle. This starts on the first day of the period - a time when it's not possible to be pregnant. Radiologists call this the '10-day rule'. Alternative imaging techniques that don't involve ionising radiation, such as MRI or ultrasound, can be used instead.
If you're about to have an X-ray image done and think you may be pregnant, make sure that you tell your doctor, even if it hasn't been confirmed yet. Your doctor will take this into account when deciding what treatment is suitable for you.
If you have had an X-ray image taken and have now found out that you were pregnant at the time, speak to your GP or radiologist for advice.
Further information
- Health Protection Agency
www.hpa.org.uk
Sources
- Diagnostic medical exposures: advice on exposure to ionising radiation during pregnancy. Health Protection Agency. www.hpa.org.uk, accessed 28 January 2009
Related topics
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: July 2009
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