There’s no magic number when it comes to CT scans—but here’s the deal: each scan exposes your body to a dose of ionizing radiation, and over time, those doses add up. While a single CT scan isn’t likely to harm you, repeated scans—especially within a short time—can increase your long-term cancer risk. Radiation dose from CT scans is measured in millisieverts (mSv). For context, the average person in the U.S. receives about 3 mSv per year from natural background radiation.Repeated exposure can accumulate, increasing the risk of radiation-induced cancer.Studies suggest that up to 30% of scans might not even be medically essential. And that’s not great news considering just one chest CT can give you the same radiation as about 100 chest X-rays. So, if you’re getting several scans a year, it’s worth asking your doctor if a lower-radiation alternative could work.
If your doctor recommends a CT or nuclear scan, don’t panic—these tests often do more good than harm. But it’s still worth asking how the scan will change your treatment plan. Will it prevent a more invasive test? If not, maybe there’s a better option.Also, try to keep a rough log of your past x-rays or scans. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it helps you and your doctor gauge how much radiation you’ve been exposed to over time.Always ask if there’s a safer alternative. MRIs and ultrasounds don’t use radiation at all and could work just as well in some cases.Getting regular scans? See if you can space them out more. Fewer scans may still give your doctor the info they need, especially if your condition is stable.Lastly, avoid scans just for peace of mind. CTs rarely find issues in people who don’t have symptoms—and they can sometimes reveal things that lead to more unnecessary radiation.Bottom line? CT scans are lifesaving tools—but use them wisely, ask questions, and make sure each one actually serves a purpose in your care.
