Risks of radiation on the chest

Chest x-rays or mammograms before age 30 may increase the risk of breast cancer among women who carry the gene for the disease.

Dutch researchers looked at almost 2,000 gene carriers and their history of chest radiation.

Women who had any exposure to these types of radiation during their 20’s were 43% more likely to develop breast cancer than those who had not been exposed.

Exposure before the age of 20 increased the risk by 62%.