Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Radiation Safety Bill into Law; New Safety Standards Will Help Minimize Cancer Danger from X-rays

Governor Schwarzennegger signed a landmark Radiation Safety Bill into Law this week. Two national cancer groups based in San Francisco joined forces to protect Californians by sponsoring bill which minimizes cancer danger from X-Rays.

SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB) October 6, 2005 -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 929 (Oropeza, D-Carson), a radiation safety bill, into law this afternoon.

This law mandates quality assurance standards and testing for all radiation-emitting medical and dental equipment in the state, protecting patients from unnecessary radiation exposure. Exposure to radiation, including medical and dental X-rays and CT scans, is the best-established environmental cause of breast cancer.

"We've known since 1965 that radiation causes breast cancer," said Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund. "The passage of AB 929 means safer radiation diagnosis and treatment for Californians and is an important step toward preventing cancer. Ultimately, we need a new diagnostic tool for breast cancer that doesn't expose us to radiation."

The new standards are intended to ensure that patients get the lowest possible dose of radiation and to reduce the need for retakes. The bill is sponsored by the Breast Cancer Fund and the National Brain Tumor Foundation.

“This is a great example of what can happen when different cancer organizations work together,” said Rob Tufel, M.S.W., M.P.H, executive director of the National Brain Tumor. “Cancer prevention, no matter what the type of cancer, is vital to reducing the number of people diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States – an incredible one in two men and one in three women.”

While therapeutic radiation is effective and crucial in treating brain tumor patients, it is important to prevent unnecessary exposure to radiation, a known carcinogen. A recent study described how patients are generally not informed of the potential negative effects of radiation exposure related to CT (computed tomographic) scans.

In January, the National Toxicology Program classified X-radiation as a known human carcinogen for the first time, stating that exposure to radiation during routine diagnostic procedures such as X-rays, mammography, CT scans and fluoroscopy can cause cancer. In June, the National Academy of Sciences agreed and stated that there is no safe dose of radiation.

Advocates say patients can also take several steps to reduce their exposure to radiation, such as asking and fully understanding whether a procedure is really necessary, keeping a record of every procedure's radiation dose and insisting that as much of the body as possible is shielded from radiation during a scan.

The National Brain Tumor Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1981 by patients and caregivers. NBTF raises funds for research and provides information and support to brain tumor patients and their families. Each year, over 40,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor and there are over 365,000 currently living with a brain tumor. For more information contact NBTF at www.braintumor.org or 1.800.934.CURE.

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