CT scans and cancer: The startling statistic you need to know

Today’s topic is something I discuss regularly with my patients. But honestly, I never thought I’d see it show up in the mainstream medical news.

I’m talking about the overuse of radiation, like X-rays and CT scans.

These scans have become so routine—so “standard of care”—that you may never question their safety.

But here’s the startling truth… and remember, numbers don’t lie.

One test, thousands of cancers?

In 2023 alone, 62 million CT scans were performed in the U.S.

That staggering number is projected to lead to more than 100,000 new cancer cases down the road.

Not to mention, researchers now estimate that 5 percent of all cancers diagnosed each year may be linked to CT scan radiation. (FIVE percent!)

Naturally, they tried to downplay the danger—calling it a “small” lifetime risk increase of 2.5 percent. But let me ask you this…

Do you want to willingly bump up your cancer risk, by ANY percent, if it’s not necessary to do so? (Me neither.)

Perhaps worst of all…

Back in 2007, the number of cancers projected from CT scans was around 29,000. Ever since, CT scan usage has ballooned by more than 30 percent—and clearly, so have the risks.

A valuable tool—when necessary

Let me be clear: I’m not saying CT scans should never be used. They’re a valuable diagnostic tool—and can be life-saving—in the right context.

But to use them so routinely they’ve become “standard”? That’s the problem—overuse.

See, doctors (and hospitals) often rely on CT scans not just for an accurate diagnosis, but as a way to help protect themselves. (A byproduct of the corporate American medico-legal system.)

The result? Multiple CT scans get ordered when they aren’t always necessary.

That overuse was projected to cause 93,000 lifetime cancers in adults—and 9,700 in children—in 2023 alone. That includes lung, colon, leukemia, bladder, thyroid, and breast cancers.

The worst offenders? Abdomen and pelvis scans for adults—linked to 37 percent of potential cancer cases. And head scans in children—contributing to 53 percent of projected cancers.

Here’s the kicker: These numbers suggest CT scans could be responsible for as many cancer cases as excess alcohol use—and almost as many as obesity.

The media loves to villainize alcohol—but where’s the outcry over excess weight? (Me neither. Such a pity.)

Bottom line? Ask your doctor if a scan is truly necessary—or if there’s a lower-radiation alternative. Because when it comes to cancer risk, every fraction of a percent matters.

To learn about more science-backed ways to help protect yourself against cancer, check out my Essential Cancer Protocol. Click here now!

Source:

“CT Scans in a Single Year Could Result in 100,000 Future Cancers in the U.S.” MedPage Today, 04/14/2025.