Cancer Risks From Low-dose Ionising Radiation Following Diagnostic Medical Procedures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,579.00
Summary
Our study investigates cancer risk following exposure to low doses of ionising radiation from medical procedures. Our first major paper linked over 800,000 CT exposures to cancer outcomes in a cohort of almost 11 million young Australians, and found that CT exposure predicted an increased incidence of leukaemia and most solid cancers. In our ongoing work we will incorporate nuclear medicine and other diagnostic x-rays, and estimate radiation dose for individual procedures and to specific organs.
Modelling The Possible Effects Of Low-dose Irradiation In Young Australians Exposed To CT Scans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,877.00
Summary
Radiation from CT (computerised tomographic X-ray) scans of children may cause a later increase in cancer risk. However, any risk for an individual will be small, so we are using de-identified records to study the average risk of cancer in 600,000 young Australians exposed to CT scans between 1985-2005. Our project has the capacity to detect an increase of 10% in the risk of exposed compared with non-exposed. Results will be available by Dec 2012.
Exploring The Causal Pathways To Cutaneous Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$159,171.00
Summary
Melanomas are cancers arising from the pigment cells of the skin, and are among the most commonly occurring cancers in this country. Each year, more than 8000 Australians are diagnosed with invasive melanoma, resulting in some 900 deaths annually. Survival from melanoma is high if the disease is detected early (5 yr survival for thin melanomas-94%), however survival rates for thicker tumours are significantly worse, and for metastatic disease, very poor (<10%). Sunlight is the principal facto ....Melanomas are cancers arising from the pigment cells of the skin, and are among the most commonly occurring cancers in this country. Each year, more than 8000 Australians are diagnosed with invasive melanoma, resulting in some 900 deaths annually. Survival from melanoma is high if the disease is detected early (5 yr survival for thin melanomas-94%), however survival rates for thicker tumours are significantly worse, and for metastatic disease, very poor (<10%). Sunlight is the principal factor which causes this disease, although there is increasing evidence that the role of sunlight in causing melanoma is not the same for all people who develop this disease. A new hypothesis proposes that the malignant course of melanomas may reflect their causal origins, with melanomas induced by chronic sunlight exposure perhaps being more aggressive than other melanomas. We will undertake a large study of patients with melanoma to investigate both the causal pathways to melanoma and their influence on markers of tumour aggressiveness. We will capture detailed information about the microscopic appearance of the melanomas from pathologists at the time of diagnosis, and marry this to the information reported by the patients about their past history of sun exposure. When complete, this study will provide new information about the causes of melanoma. Such knowledge is crucial to controlling and preventing this cancer.Read moreRead less