Is Your Doctor Prescribing Cancer?

Imagine if there were 280 new cancer cases diagnosed every single day that didn’t have to happen. 

Sadly, this isn’t a hypothetical figure. 

According to brand-new data just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a shocking 103,000 extra cases of cancer are being diagnosed every year because of a single, common medical procedure.¹ 

I’m taking about CT (computed tomography) scans. 

The same scan that doctors often order for “peace of mind” or “just in case.” 

The scan that far too many physicians recommend for the slightest cough or ache...  

And the one that — if you tell your doctor no — they look at you like you don’t know what’s best for you. 

Don’t get me wrong... 

I’m not saying CT scans don’t play an important part in trauma care or critical diagnostics — because they can. 

But at the same time, these scans have also become grossly overprescribed, misused, and dangerously misunderstood. 

Let me show you what I mean... 

CT scans expose you to ionizing radiation. This is the same type of radiation released during a nuclear explosion — just in smaller doses. 

A single CT scan exposes you to between 150 and 800 times the radiation of a regular X-ray.² 

It’s about the same level of radiation that some survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs were exposed to in WWII.³ 

Now I would never tell anyone NOT to get this potentially life-saving test. I’ve recommended it for some patients myself... 

But only after I determined that it was absolutely essential. 

Because, you see, almost 50% of the 93 million scans performed every year in the U.S. are not medically necessary.^4,5 

And the radiation from CT scans can lead to a variety of cancers. The most common type of projected cancer due to CT scans is lung cancer, followed by colon cancer.⁶ 

In a moment, I’ll explain how CT scans lead to cancer and what you can do to protect yourself if you have to have one. 

But first, I want to tell you why so many doctors are putting their patients at risk for no reason. I’ll also tell you what to do if your doctor says you need a scan. 

Is Your Doctor Knowingly Putting Your Health At Risk? 

When the CT scan was invented in the 1970s, it was seen as a medical breakthrough. 

Doctors could get a three-dimensional view inside a patient’s body without having to cut the patient open in surgery. It was a less invasive way to diagnose injuries and disease. 

But the new technology allowed doctors to get complacent. CT scans soon became a crutch. 

Instead of gathering detailed information about a patient’s symptoms... instead of relying on their own diagnostic experience... they started sending patients for scans as a first response. 

Today, if you go to an emergency room complaining of any head or stomach pain, you’ll probably get a CT scan. 

According to a recent Harvard study, researchers found that of the patients undergoing CT scans, 33% were on their fifth scan, 5% had more than 22 scans, 4% had had more than nine, and 1% had more than 38.⁷ 

But it’s not just laziness that’s led to the boom in CT scans over the past four decades... 

Nearly 35% of imaging tests are ordered as a defense against medical malpractice lawsuits. Not because the patients really need them.⁸ 

Then there are the financial incentives. The medical imaging market generates billions of dollars annually. And it’s projected to make more than $85 billion by 2031.⁹ A lot of doctors have money invested in radiology clinics. Some have even bought their own machines. These doctors order far more CT scans than those who don’t have a financial stake.¹⁰ 

And according to a recent survey of doctors, more than half — 53% — said they’ll order a CT scan if a patient requests one. Even if they KNOW it isn’t necessary.¹¹ 

Another survey of more than 1,000 people found that fewer than one in six patients are told by their doctors about the risks of CT scans. That means more than 84% were left uninformed.¹² 

Unfortunately, that’s because so many doctors in mainstream medicine are uninformed. In a shocking survey of medical providers caring for patients undergoing abdominal CT scans, fewer than half knew that the scans could cause cancer.¹³ 

CT Scans Damage Your DNA 

Like X-rays, CT scans use ionizing radiation, but at a much higher dose. This radiation causes damage to your DNA, and that can lead to the formation of tumors. 

Each time your doctor scans a part of your body, you’re exposed to 10 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation. To put this into context, one CT scan of the abdomen is equal to:¹⁴ 

• 500 chest X-rays 

• 1,500 dental X-rays 

• 200,000 airport screens 

A whole-body scan uses between 15 mSv and 21 mSv. 

This is the equivalent of approximately 760 chest X-rays.¹⁵ In 2013, a large study concluded that exposure to just one CT scan could be linked to developing cancer later in life.16 

The researchers tracked patients from birth in the 1980s into early adulthood. (Because radiation-induced tumors can take decades to develop, the researchers decided to follow younger patients.) 

Of the almost 11 million people they followed, over 680,000 had been given at least one CT scan. 

They compared the cancer rate of this group of patients with an equal number of people who had never undergone a CT scan. 

The researchers were stunned by the results... 

They found that, compared to those who never had a scan, the patients who’d had a CT scan had a 24% increased risk for developing any kind of cancer. 

They also found a person’s cancer risk increased as the number of scans increased. That risk remained elevated for years after the original scan was done. Compared to people who had never had a CT scan, those who had undergone a scan had a: 

• 35% higher risk for cancer four years after the scan 

• 25% higher risk at five to nine years 

• 14% higher risk at 10 to 14 years 

You Can Shield Yourself from CT Scans 

Sometimes, CT scans can’t be avoided. If your doctor tells you that you need to have a CT scan, make sure you really need it. Don’t be afraid to speak up. After all, there’s nothing more precious than your health. 

I’m not here to scare you — I’m here to empower you with strategies to take back control and protect yourself and your loved ones from unnecessary exposure. 

Here are my four guidelines...  

1. Don’t Agree To A CT Scan Unless It’s Absolutely Necessary: You should always ask: “How will the scan change your treatment plan?” and “Is there an alternative — like ultrasound or MRI — that doesn’t use ionizing radiation?” If they hesitate or can’t answer clearly, that’s likely to be a red flag. 

2. Always Ask For A Low-Dose Option: Not all CT scans are created equal. Radiation doses can vary tenfold between imaging centers. Ask the radiologist about the dose for this scan? And are there dose-reduction protocols that prioritize patient safety? 

3. Keep A Personal Record Of Every Scan: Hospitals are notorious for losing or ignoring your past records. This can lead to repeat scans that could’ve been avoided. Keep a file or digital record of the type of scan you got, the date of the scan, the reason, and the name of facility. It’s important to be your own health advocate. So bring your records with you to every appointment. 

4. Ask For Shielding Of Sensitive Areas: This is basic radiological hygiene — and yet it’s often skipped. Be sure to protect your thyroid, breasts, ovaries, and groin with lead shielding whenever possible — even if the scan isn’t directly aimed at those areas. 

Protect Your DNA Naturally 

I suggest that you say no to all unnecessary scans. Ask hard questions, demand safer alternatives, and protect your body.  

But if you agree that a CT scan is necessary, I recommend you take certain supplements to help your body neutralize free radicals and repair DNA damage from radiation. 

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