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Radiation

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Teenage girls exposed to radiation during the second world war have twice the risk of developing breast cancer. Historically, a similar risk is seen in those exposed to multiple chest radiographs in the assessment of tuberculosis. The increased risk becomes apparent after a latent period of more than 10 years.

However, women aged over 50 exposed to radiation through the mammographic screening programme have a decreased mortality from breast cancer.

It is unclear what the relative risk of radiation would be if younger women were offered mammographic screening.

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