Some docs are 3x more likely to get breast cancer—here's why, and how to stay safe

There's an important message many women in procedural specialties need to hear—and internalize. It’s about radiation safety, gender disparities in PPE, and the real, documented cancer risk that’s often dismissed or downplayed in the medical field.

“If you’re a woman and you work in a field where you have to wear X-ray protective lead, listen to this video,” Betsy Grunch, MD, neurosurgeon and spine specialist, aka @ladyspinedoc, said in an Instagram Reel.

For those working in fields where imaging is frequent, this risk isn’t hypothetical. Breast tissue is among the most radiosensitive in the body. Add repeated, low-dose radiation over years, and you have a cumulative exposure that can quietly become cancerous.

Protective gear hasn’t kept up

Most lead aprons are designed for male bodies—and many women are still using ill-fitting protection. Dr. Grunch calls attention to the armpit area near the side of the breast, often left vulnerable thanks to oversized gear. Continued exposure day in and day out leaves women working near X-rays particularly at risk.

If you're a woman working in health care and exposed to radiation for your work, this may seem so commonplace that you don't even pause. “When I was a resident, this was a common theme where I just picked up whatever lead I could find and put it on, and I didn’t even think twice about it," recalls Dr. Grunch.

Reminders for women in healthcare

• Radiation exposure is a carcinogen. This isn’t theoretical—it’s well documented. And repeated low-dose exposure adds up.

• Lead fit matters. Advocate for gender-specific shielding, including batwing designs or vests with axillary coverage.

• Don’t wait for institutions to lead—advocate now. Departments and hospitals may not provide fitted gear unless it’s requested. Speaking up matters.

• We’re not just protecting ourselves. We’re modeling behavior for trainees and colleagues.

Dr. Grunch’s video serves as a powerful reminder that peer-to-peer conversations can drive cultural shifts in medicine. When physicians raise awareness about real, modifiable cancer risks in our own work environments, it reinforces the value of community—and underscores the need for systems that protect all bodies equally.

"The point of this video is just for awareness and transparency because for years I didn’t even think about protecting my breasts from constant radiation exposure in the operating room," she said. "We also need to be our own advocates and advocate for well-fitting X-ray protection lead that is fitted for a woman and not for a man. In a male-dominated field, we often don't want to be the squeaky wheel, but it’s for our own protection."