When Cancer Screening Isn’t Worth the Risk
Cancer is the worst . And perhaps thanks to Movember and the pink consumer products, we are all very knowledgeable. Too knowledgeable. “Because we’ve got it in our heads to always get tested, patients ignore the risks of unnecessary cancer screening ,” notes the New York Times . Low-risk patients often receive false-positive results, leading to dangerous and unnecessary abuse of radiation and chemotherapy .
Whose fault is it? Everyone. Doctors are afraid to sue for not diagnosing cancer. The public is aware of the risks of cancer, but not the risks of treatment . And as the Times reports, the test is usually paid for by insurance, which gives no personal incentive to skip it.
Obviously, tests are important, and low-risk patients do indeed develop cancer. But before getting tested, slow down and talk to your doctor about the risks and trade-offs.