Physician Joins Witness Protection Program?
“We knew for years that if a patient is a smoker the risk of lung cancer is high. So why did we not have annual chest x-ray as a screening tool? ” (Name Withheld) M.D.
Most lung cancer patient die within 5 years after the diagnosis with or without treatment.
If we make the diagnosis early then we have to spend more on treatment plan.
If we make the diagnosis late then we spend less.
So why have a screening test and pick up early lung cancer?
Editor’s Note: This was part of an email we received yesterday from a physician. We thought his statement above is worth sharing and is just another indication that not all preventive care screening and tests change anything clinically but drives costs up.
