Breast cancer risk  in female radiologic technologists

Breast cancer risk was elevated significantly in female radiologic technologists who experienced daily low-dose radiation exposures over several years that potentially resulted in appreciable cumulative exposure.  

In analyses that were stratified on birth cohort and adjusted for established breast cancer risk factors, breast cancer risk was increased significantly in women who began working as radiologic technologists before 1940, rose significantly with increasing number of years worked before 1940, and was elevated significantly in those who had the highest observed (vs. minimal) proxy index for cumulative radiation exposure.

Bibliographical reference:

Doody MM et al.: "Breast cancer incidence in U.S. radiologic technologists", Cancer. 2006 Apr 25

Michele Doody

Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA