AW: AW: [ RadSafe ] Breast Cancer Risk, and working in Radiology / Nuclear Medicine

Sat Mar 10 20:59:40 CST 2007

John,

of course you are right - in the context of a scientific exchange that would have been mandatory. In the given context I considered that additional detail as potentially bewildering and hence counterproductive. Just in case that this might not be the case, I add the requested information in the attached graph. As far as the exposure levels of the nurses are concerned that additional detail does alter the message by not one bit.

HTH and best regards, Rainer

________________________________

Von: John Andrews [mailto:andrewsjp at chartertn.net]
Gesendet: So 11.03.2007 02:08
An: Facius, Rainer
Betreff: Re: AW: [ RadSafe ] Breast Cancer Risk, and working in Radiology / Nuclear Medicine

Rainer, to be useful, that graph need the error bars of the line.

John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee

Rainer.Facius at dlr.de wrote:
> Diane,
>
> the most comprehensive analysis of the most extensive data base for "real world information" concerning the association between ionizing radiation and breast cancer has been presented by a team of distinguished expert authors, Preston et al. 2002. Among the eight populations studied, only two were exposed chronically at low dose rates and hence are relevant for radiation protection. The observed breast cancer incidence rate as a function of radiation exposure in the low dose range - i.e. the range that is relevant for occupational radiation protection - is shown in the attached graph which displays the results given in table 4 of Preston et al. 2002. I wonder whether your colleagues will be able to properly evaluate this "real world information", e.g. that it pertains to a population which usually is considered to constitute the most vulnerable fraction. Of course, at higher doses the expected detrimental effect of radiation exposure is observed as reflected by the citation from the original investigators:
>
> "It was the contribution of subjects with breast doses > 1.0 Gy that produced a positive association between dose and the subsequent breast cancer risk."
>
> I hope that helps, Rainer
>  
>
> Dr. Rainer Facius
> German Aerospace Center
> Institute of Aerospace Medicine
> Linder Hoehe
> 51147 Koeln
> GERMANY
> Voice: +49 2203 601 3147 or 3150
> FAX:   +49 2203 61970
>
>
> Source: Preston D L, Mattson A, Holmberg E, Shore R, Hildreth N G, Boice Jr. J D.
> Radiation effects on breast cancer risk: a pooled analysis of eight cohorts.
> Radiation Research 158(2002)220-235

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