question-icon

Can Radiation Cause Risks To The Body While On A Healthy Diet?

default
Posted on Mon, 6 Nov 2017
Question: I have a concern. I can’t help but get out of my head the damage I have done to my body in terms of cancer risk. I was hoping you could give me some honest insight on my risk due to my past behaviors.


First off, I am 29 years old, in good health I feel, I stopped smoking 3 years ago, I eat very healthy, and workout.


Before this however, I smoked from 19-25 years of age. From 26-28, I ate like crap. I literally ate fast food TWICE A DAY everyday. On top of that I got a ct scan of my abdomen and one of skull (nothing was wrong. I was just in my own mind).


This was all the past. I live a healthy lifestyle now but it still haunts me of the damage. I did. Doctors told me not to worry because with the ct scan, it’s low doses and the body heals that on it’s own. They also told me that if a quit smoking at this young of an age that my body will heal it almost completely over a period of time. And if I stop eating the way I ate, that my body will heal everything.


I was just thinking of the damage I did to my dna and if I did any mutation to it. Or is that not how it works? Sorry for my ignorance.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (55 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hello. DNA damage occurs at high dose

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. I understand your concern. So radiation does pose a threat to dna and this is the reason for development of cancer. However, our body has a natural dna repair mechanism in case it is damaged by any outside insult like radiation and it repairs it completely.
If however, the dose of radiation is too large, then only it exceeds the capacity to repair and then only cancer can develop.
hope you understand now.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (7 hours later)
what I'm asking is do you think I did a lot of damage already at 29 from the smoking, 2 ct scans, and bad diet? or do you think my body is going to heal all that because I stopped? I'm worried about the damage I already done or do you think I didn't do any and it's back to normal?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Hello. cancer risk reduces after quitting smoking

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Cancer risk reduces after quitting smoking and 2 ct scans donot add any risk. Body mechanisms heal small insults and hence there is no reason to worry. Just adopt healthy life styles as advised earlier and you will be normal and healthier.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (14 minutes later)
What do you think is my cancer risk such as lung disease due to smoking half a pack a day for 6 years? Is the damage already done? Can it go back to normal because I stopped it at such a young age?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (2 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Risk is very low

Detailed Answer:
Hello . We usually talk about risk in terms of pack years. Your comes as 3 pack years. Usually cancer patients have more than 20 pack years. So you can see that your risk is very low. It will certainly come back to normal.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (18 minutes later)
Will diet help bring it Back? if so, how does diet help or cause cancer? I've always been confused on that .

Also, what are the chances of a smoker (not me) dying from lung cancer?

I also heard that even former ex smokers could never get their risk back down to normal again. is that true?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Hello. Diet only prevents cancer

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. Healthy diet only prevents any future cancer to develop. It cannot treat an existing cancer. As i said earlier, chances of dying from lung cancer in smoker depend the stage of the disease. Chance of developing cancer is high in heavy smokers.
Of course, ex smokers who were heavily smoking, cannot have their risk bak to normal.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (3 hours later)
why do a majority of smoking cancers appear in people 65 years and older? I know it can happen at any age but why when people smoke heavily. the average age for lung cancer is over 65?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hello. Its not 65 years , its after 50 years of age

Detailed Answer:
Hello again. As i said lung cancer due to smoking is usually seen after 25 pack years history, that is approximately after 25 years of heavy smoking. hence it is seen in more that 50 years of age group.
Thanks
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Deepak Sundriyal

Oncologist

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 1655 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Can Radiation Cause Risks To The Body While On A Healthy Diet?

Brief Answer: Hello. DNA damage occurs at high dose Detailed Answer: Hello dear. I understand your concern. So radiation does pose a threat to dna and this is the reason for development of cancer. However, our body has a natural dna repair mechanism in case it is damaged by any outside insult like radiation and it repairs it completely. If however, the dose of radiation is too large, then only it exceeds the capacity to repair and then only cancer can develop. hope you understand now. Thanks and regards