As with chemotherapy, certain forms of medical radiation can lead to an increased risk of cancer. The benefits of using these types of medical radiation, however, generally far outweigh the risks associated with them.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells and treat or control cancer. Radiation therapy’s cancer-causing potential was recognized many years ago. In fact, much of our knowledge about ionizing radiation has come from studying the survivors of the atomic bombs and their radiation in Japan, from workers’ occupational exposure to radiation, and from patients treated with radiation therapy for malignant and nonmalignant disease. Despite being relatively rare, the development of a second cancer is more common among those who receive radiation therapy than those who do not. Read the rest of this entry »