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A member asked:
Is it possible for doctors to accidentally overdose someone on radiation therapy?
6 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Yes: But it is extremely rare, there is lots of quality assurance and double and triple checking to assure correct dosing.
Answered 8/26/2011
6.4k views
Yes: Radiation has a prescription and dose that is variable depending on the cancer and stage. It certainly can be given wrong or errors made. However having side effects or complications does not automatically mean there was an overdosage. That's because many parts of the body are sensitive to radiation even at appropriate doses. Therefore side effects are treated all the time.
Answered 4/9/2013
6.1k views
Unfortuantely yes: It should never happen, but it has happened, and it will happen again. As a discipline we are rather concerned and careful to avoid this, but we are human, and humans make mistakes. There have been unfortuante episodes reported in the new york times in the last 3 years. Some emphasize the rarety, others the harm, we all need to be aware, vigilant and careful.
Answered 7/5/2012
6.1k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
Very good evening doctors. If someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer, shouldn't the first treatment be radiation or chemotherapy, rather than an invasive prostatectomy where the prostate is completely taken out? Why am I wrong about this thinking?
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A member asked:
How does the doctor decide how to to the radiation treatment?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
I had a lumpectomy for breast cancer and also had chemotherapy as it was grade 3. Now, the doctors want me to have radiations and take tamoxifen, but i'm fed up with the treatment. What should I do?
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A member asked:
After a lumpectomy for stage 1 breast cancer, will a doctor always assign that you get radiation treatment, or does it depend on the patient?
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