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USPTF --- Good news for smokers and Lung Cancer screening

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Posted 1/3/2014 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Unlike the US Prententive Task Force's pathetic guidelines for prostate cancer, they seem to find performing annual CTs for smokers and lung cancer screening ok:

www.kpbs.org/news/2014/jan/02/task-force-recommends-new-lung-cancer-screening-gu/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kpbs%2Fmidday-edition+(KPBS+Podcast%3A+Midday+Edition)url

Post Edited (Jerry L.) : 1/2/2014 6:19:37 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/3/2014 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
I saw that too. As a attempting to quit smoking guy - I'll probably ask my GP about it when I see him next week.
Posted 1/3/2014 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Steve, I too am a smoker, and my doctor talked to me about having a CT scan to screen for LC. The way she put it, though, was that the problem with these CT scans is that they frequently find "something" that turns out to be nothing. In her words, she said before deciding whether I wanted to be screened, I should decide what, if anything, I would do with the information the CT scan gave. In other words, would I be prepared to have further tests (some of them invasive) in order to determine that the "something" is "nothing."
Posted 1/3/2014 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
I believe I read somwehere that 50% smokers and to a lesser extent non-smokers have findings on scans (nodules, calcifications, shadows) that prove to be benign. Someone will have to pay a hefty bill for all those scans and biopsies. Compared to the cost of a PSA test, it is like buying an iPhone vs a pack of batteries. And I do remember reading studies that concluded that X-ray screening for lung cancer did not prolong survival. Weired bunch of people, the USPTF.
Posted 1/3/2014 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
This screening would be done annually and would be done with a low-dose CT for individuals at high risk for lung cancer.  High risk is defined as: current and former smokers, ages 55-79 years, who have significant cumulative tobacco smoke exposure and have smoked within the last 15 years. I don't think this low dose CT is as expensive as a regular CT...I'm thinking under $500, but can't seem to find that info. yet.  I am curious how many people would be eligible for this?  And, compared to how many guys over 40 could get a much cheaper PSA test.  Anyone up for some math?  So we need to find out: - How much is the CT for LC screening? - How many men are eligible for LC screening? - How much is a PSA test? - How many men would be screened for PC  if we started at age 40? Post Edited (Jerry L.) : 1/3/2014 9:27:10 AM (GMT-7)
Posted 1/3/2014 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
My insurance only pays $17 for PSA Total. Imagine if it was done on all men over 40 once a month... it would probably only be 5$ and could be done at CVS. We would have a lot more data that way.

I am all for the LC CT... of course I am a former (quit two days ago) smoker and data guy that would rather have the info to make decisions than not.
Posted 1/4/2014 8:11 AM (GMT 0)
Stephie - good point... On the other hand - I've been getting a chest x-ray every year.... Just had one three weeks ago..

Jerry - the NBC news story I saw mentioned $300 to $400 ... But then in the near future they should be done without a co-pay thanks to Obama Care.
Posted 1/4/2014 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Lets say $350 per CT scan. From the CDC I read that there are about 13 million current smokers over 45 in the US...but you don't need to be a current smoker...you're eligible for a CT if you're over 55 (whether you're a smoker or used to be a smoker) so the number is probably over 13 million, but we'll use that number.


So:

13,000,000 * $350= $4,550,000,000 / yr.

That's how much it would cost to screen every current or former smoker for a year in the US and the Task Force is ok with that.

On the PC side:

60,000,000 (estimated men over 40) * $50 = $3,000,000,000 /yr

Post Edited (Jerry L.) : 1/4/2014 9:22:44 AM (GMT-7)

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