Re: Breast-cancer patient gets radiation overdose

["Andrew Karam" <akaram@safety.rochester.edu>]

I forwarded the original post and Al Tschaeche's response to one of our
medical physicists.  His response follows.

>
>The total body dose and the dose to the contralateral breast have been
>studied thoroughly. The total body dose is an issue for pregnant women.  We
>have setup shields for pregnent women here and reduced the
>dose to less than 10 rads.  To reduce the dose to the opposite breast, we
>try to wedge only the lateral tangential field.  Hope this answers your
>question.  



Andrew Karam, MS, CHP			akaram@safety.rochester.edu
RSO, University of Rochester		http://www.rochester.edu/Admin/EHAS/rshpage.htm 
(716) 275-3781 (voice)				(716) 256-0365 (fax)

"Just as, from the pawprint alone, one recognizes the lion." Johann
Bernoulli, 1697 referring to Newton's anonymous solution of the
brachistochrone problem. 

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