The Risk of Cancer from Mammograms David J. Brenner, Steve Marino, Prakash Hande, and Charles Geard Scientists at Columbia University are investigating the risks of developing cancer from exposure to low doses of radiation, such as those received from a routine mammogram. As with virtually all medical procedures, routine mammography involves both a benefit and a risk, though the potential benefits of screening mammograms generally far outweigh the small risks. It is important, however, to understand exactly how small the risks are, particularly for younger women, who are generally more sensitive to radiation, and also for possible small subpopulations of women who might be genetically very sensitive to the effects of radiation. To evaluate the risks, researchers are examining the effects of the type of radiation used in mammography on chromosomes, and then studying the subsequent changes that might lead to cancer.
Chromosomes are the structures inside cells that contain genes.
Genes control how cells divide and multiply - and ultimately cancer is a disease in which cells divide and multiply in an uncontrolled way. Once these factors are determined, results will be used in models that predict breast cancer risk from mammography x-rays. We already know that the risk is small, much smaller than the potential benefits. More generally, project results should increase the accuracy of these models and improve scientists' understanding of what happens inside cells that cause normal cells to transform into cancerous ones. The Low Dose Radiation Research Program of the U.S. Department of Energy funds this Web site.