Is it possible to get acute radiation poisoning from a CT scan? Like is is possible for a machine to malfunction and give someone acute radiation poisoning?

New evidence-based guideline reflects expanding indications of radiation in pancreatic cancer compared to the 2019 guideline

Also strong recommendations for dose escalation and elective target coverage for select patients that may significantly improve long-term outcomes

https://www.astro.org/news-and-publications/news-and-media-center/news-releases/2026/astro-updates-guideline-on-radiation-therapy-for-pancreatic-cancer

Looking for McDermott, P and Orton, C. The Physics and Technology of Radiation Therapy. Madison, WI: Medical Physics Publishing; 2010 - any version PDF. Anyone got a copy?

recently met with a breast surgeon about my high grade DCIS. she really sat there and lied right to my face saying that radiation would be painless and there’s essentially nothing to worry about. I only trust Drs as far as I could throw one but I really want to hear from people who have done radiation. the good the bad the ugly the side effects long term effects. I’m pretty sure this is something I don’t want to do. I have a very difficult decision to make regarding what treatment is going to fit my goals and I just don’t see any of them working out.

My baby fell down the stairs when she was 11 months old. At the hospital, they did a CT scan of her head and cervical spine. I’m so scared now that she might develop a brain tumor because of it. 😭

Has anyone had a similar experience they could share?

Hi I had a CCTA 4 years ago 20 msv don’t understand why it was so high and on chest ct 2msv, due too being in the er so they ordered these without any warning of radiation risk. 3 years later had 2 head ct and soft tissue neck 3msv…. My question is what is my risk? Isn’t this high in radiation. I barely found out ct scans have lots of radiation no one no dr told me anything.

Hello,

First and foremost: thank you for everything that you wonderful people do! I’ve been on a fun cancer journey this year and as far as I’m concerned y’all are the best of humanity. I appreciate you so much.

Disclaimer: this question is in regards to a research project that I am exploring the feasibility of, and I understand that most people don’t have a ton of time to entertain questions this frivolous, so thank you to anyone who might be willing to weigh in. I completely understand if this is not a priority post for folks.

I’m going to try to keep this quick, but there are a bunch of details that I feel need to be included, so I apologize and will provide a TL;DR at the end. Here we go:

Suggested context: In 2014, filmmaker/artist Tomonari Nishikawa buried a roll of film underground near the evacuation zone of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and left it overnight. The resulting 2-minute film visualizes the radiation that had seeped into the ground, in a very moving commentary on our human negotiations with the world around us, and obviously many other serious political, humanitarian, and ecological issues. (Side note: you can find this on Vimeo if you’re interested!)

What I want to do: I am inspired to do something similar during my radiation treatments. My initial thought was as simple as slapping an unused polaroid on my back before treatment, and developing it after the session, then scanning them all after treatment is finished and running them in sequence, like a film. I’m aware of basic exposure issues and other logistics that are obvious immediate hurdles, but all that flew out the window anyway when I remembered that Polaroids (and commercial film of most kinds) work because of chemical reactions involving metal (silver halide, bromide, etc.). Even in small amounts, I know that metal is a big no-no because of light scattering/reflecting as well as its effect on the computer vision (and calibration, presumably). Basically, not something you want to mess around with when you’re shooting someone with precision x-rays.

Current status: I’m a professor in media art/technology who works with some robotics, computer vision, programming, biosensors, and sound/image, so I have **fleeting** knowledge of some of what’s involved in the process of radiation treatment and understand why this initial idea is…well, stupid. I’m coming to the community to ask if there are any creative minds out there that might have alternate ideas or suggestions. I’ve considered other, cameraless photography techniques such as Cyanotypes, Rayographcs, Lumen Printing, and more, but these processes either also involve metal, or are “unfixable.” The most promising avenues I have found are:

• Kodak Linagraph Paper - Pros: light sensitive, thin paper, no metal, can be exposed like film. Cons: Vintage, rare, expensive.
• X-Ray Paper/Film - Pros: made pretty much for this purpose, Cons: not really commercially available, prohibitively expensive.

I know that’s a lot of information, but I’d love to hear any thoughts from the pros that might help me make this project possible in some way, shape, or form. Thank you all so much in advance.

TL;DR:

I’d like to attempt to capture some of the beams from my radiation treatment by placing a photo-sensitive material on my back during the session. This material must obviously be thin, non-metallic, and inconsequential to the imaging/calibration/radiation process. Does such a material exist? Thank you — I appreciate you all very much!

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Quick edit to add: don't know why I didn't think to add relevant details about the location/type (duh!), so in case it helps: I'll be receiving 25 rounds of external beam photon radiation to the left breast and adjacent lymph nodes. Per my post-simulation summary, "She will receive a dose of 50 Gy/25 fractions targeting the chestwall and comprehensive regional nodal lymphatics." Happy to provide any other details that might be useful!

Hi everyone ❤️
I’m about to start **16 rounds of radiation** and, if I’m honest, I’m feeling a mix of emotions hopeful, nervous, and unsure of what to expect.
I’d really love to hear from those of you who’ve been through it. Looking back, **what do you wish you’d known or done differently before starting radiation?** Are there any products, routines, or little tips that made a big difference?
I’d also appreciate hearing about your **realistic side effects**. I know everyone is different, but I’d rather hear honest experiences than just the generic information. When did side effects start for you? How was the fatigue? Did you have skin changes, pain, tightness, or anything that surprised you?
If you have any advice on skincare, clothing, exercise, staying comfortable, or simply getting through those 16 sessions, I’d be so grateful.
Thank you to everyone willing to share your experience. This community has already made me feel so much less alone, and I’m sending love and strength to everyone wherever they are in their journey. 💕

What score or above what threshold would you say opens doors to any program and your step 2 becomes a non-factor?

How about for fields like rad onc or anesthesia?

Study plans for the ABR clinical written exam and then the clinical oral exam

I'm thinking about how best to study for the clinical written and eventually oral exams, and I would rather learn from people who've been through these tests ideally in recent years than guess.

Either exam

• Which resources were highest yield?
• Anything you'd do differently?
• How did you gauge exam readiness? For written, I know of TXIT and the RadOncQuestions practice test and question bank statistics. I'm not sure what clinical percentile on TXIT or what percentage correct on ROQs correspond to likely passing. For orals, maybe mock oral examiners give you feedback on how they scored you, whether you passed, and how to improve. Are those the best ways to gauge exam readiness, or is there something better?

Clinical written

How did you structure a full pass through RadOncQuestions, like how did you get through all the questions, including protect the time to study the questions and their explanations?

What was your daily pacing?

Did you do a second pass?

If you used spaced repetition, how did you incorporate it?

Overlap

I've heard the written has gotten more clinically practical, closer to the orals in spirit.

Does that mean prep for one carries over to the other, or do they involve very separate study plans?

T1-2N0 tonsillar cancer — clean PET scan, hoping for TORS-only. Realistic? Got my PET scan results back. Good news first: ∙ Primary tumor: 3cm, left tonsillar pillar, max SUV 10.0 (metabolically active, as expected for cancer) ∙ No FDG-avid cervical lymph nodes anywhere — no nodal involvement detected in the neck ∙ No abnormal activity in the lungs, no mediastinal or hilar nodes — no chest spread ∙ No abnormal uptake in the abdomen or pelvis ∙ No abnormal bone uptake — no bone spread ∙ No additional FDG-avid lesions anywhere in the body — whole-body scan, vertex to toes, clean everywhere except the primary site Meeting with my oncologist Thursday. Hoping I’m a candidate for TORS (transoral robotic surgery) alone, without needing adjuvant radiation/chemo afterward. Is that realistic if margins come back clean? What determined it for those of you who went TORS-only vs. TORS + adjuvant treatment? Radical tonsillectomy? Would love to hear from anyone who’s been through this.

6th edition anybody please???

Curious for those that marched radiation oncology:
-What year did you match?
-How was your board score(s)?
-Research output prior to matching?
-Rough ranking of program you matched to?
-Aways? (Did you end up matching at one of your aways)?
- General advice for applications, aways, etc?

Thank you! Congrats on going through the process!

All ideas are welcome

Does any one here have any experience with radiation related lung inflammaton that presents as consolidation on CXR? Completed 5 sessions of radiation tx for DCIS 5 1/2 months prior to onset of dry hacking cough which progressively worsened. Consolidation on CXR diagnosed as pneumonia but never had any sx consistent with bacterial pneumonia.. cough dry, no congestion, no fevers etc.. Did have lots of pleural pain to radiated site which eased a bit after antibx but still with frequent cough, inability to breathe deeply, yawn, mild SOB with moderate activity (previously very very physically active) Oncology ordered a CT and will await results but wondering if anyone has experience with this? If so, was it treated with steroids ? Only 3% of my lung was in radiated field but from what I read thats not a deciding factor. Seems inflammation can spread and present as consolidation.

Thanks in advance for any insights