Old habits die hard.
That adage is particularly true, many medical researchers say, when it comes to doctors who are resolutely spurred by years of training to order every conceivable diagnostic test available that might detect any spread of breast cancer in a patient who has been newly diagnosed.
That proactivity routinely extends to even women with Stage 1 or Stage II breast cancer that show no symptoms of advanced cancer.
From a cost-benefit analysis, the knee-jerk reaction of many doctors to simply practice defensive medicine by ordering up more tests is costly on a number of fronts.
New findings presented recently at a medical conference, which analyzed information from eight studies involving about 1,700 women with breast cancer, indicate a "lack of utility of almost any X-ray in low-risk patients," says a study spokesperson.
Additionally, the same can be said of other and more advanced tests, including bone scans, PET, CT and MRI imaging. The cumulative cost of such tests annually across the country, including for New Jersey patients, is almost incalculable.
Moreover, the quick tendency to resort to such diagnostic tools, say study researchers, results in "unnecessary invasive procedures, overtreatment, unnecessary radiation exposure, and misdiagnosis."
In other words, there is a lot of medical malpractice going on.
Proof that aggressive testing in women with otherwise asymptomatic newly diagnosed breast cancer often confers negligible benefits at best (and again, can result in false positives and subsequently unnecessary and harmful treatment) is in the numbers.
Data analyzed on diagnostic testing undergone by nearly 1,500 women in the study revealed that cancer spread was detected only 0.82 percent of the time when a liver ultrasound was done. When a chest X-ray was taken, that number dropped to 0.51 percent.
The conclusion of the study team is firm and succinctly stated by one researcher: "Women with early-stage cancer may not need any of these tests."
If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a missed breast cancer diagnosis or treatment that was ill-advised and unnecessary, please contact Breslin & Breslin for a free consultation.
Source: WebMD, "After breast cancer diagnosis, tests overdone?" Charlene Laino, Sept. 12, 2012
22 Comments
how to stop anxiety
June 22, 2013 at 2:30 PM
Cheers to the blog post. Figure out how to quit along with conquer panic attacks and
anxiety problems.
how to stop panic attacks
June 22, 2013 at 4:07 PM
Cheers for the blog post. Learn to cease and also triumph over anxiety attacks.
how to stop panic attacks
June 22, 2013 at 9:02 PM
Thanks to the blog post. Figure out how to end along with overcome
anxiety assaults.
How To Stop Panic Attacks
June 24, 2013 at 3:40 AM
Thank you for your short article. Learn to quit along with triumph
over anxiety and panic violence.
how to stop panic attacks
June 24, 2013 at 4:35 AM
Many thanks for that post. Discover ways to quit and triumph over panic assaults.
how to overcome anxiety
June 24, 2013 at 7:09 AM
Appreciate it for the post. Figure out how to stop and conquer
anxiety violence.
how to overcome anxiety
June 25, 2013 at 10:58 PM
Thank you for that post. Learn to quit and triumph over panic assaults.
how to stop panic attacks
June 27, 2013 at 7:39 AM
Thanks with the post. Learn how to cease and also triumph over panic attacks and
anxiety assaults.
how to last longer in bed
June 30, 2013 at 9:50 PM
all the time i used to read smaller articles
that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this article which
I am reading at this time.
how to stop anxiety
July 5, 2013 at 6:05 PM
Thank you to the article. Figure out how to
end in addition to conquer panic and anxiety violence.
battlefield 4 free
July 8, 2013 at 3:49 AM
Hey very interesting blog!
how to stop panic attacks
July 9, 2013 at 12:46 PM
We're a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your site provided us with valuable information to work on. You have done a formidable activity and our entire group might be grateful to you.
how to stop anxiety attacks
July 9, 2013 at 11:13 PM
Great blog here! Also your website loads up
fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
how to stop panic attacks
July 9, 2013 at 11:36 PM
I know this web site gives quality based articles or reviews and additional data,
is there any other web site which offers these kinds of information in quality?
battlefield 4 beta
July 10, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article!
It's the little changes that will make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
battlefield 4 beta
July 10, 2013 at 10:36 PM
For most up-to-date information you have to visit web and on the web I found this
website as a most excellent website for latest updates.
how to last longer in bed
July 12, 2013 at 7:56 AM
Hello mates, good piece of writing and nice arguments
commented here, I am truly enjoying by these.
how to last longer in bed
July 13, 2013 at 9:10 PM
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest
but your sites really nice, keep it up! I'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. Many thanks
battlefield 4 beta
July 15, 2013 at 11:01 AM
This info is worth everyone's attention. When can I find out more?
how to last longer in bed
July 16, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my site so i came to “return the favor”.
I am trying to find things to improve my web site!I suppose
its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
top eleven cheat
July 17, 2013 at 8:02 AM
There's definately a great deal to learn about this issue. I really like all the points you've made.
top eleven hack
July 17, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Every weekend i used to visit this site, for the reason that i wish for
enjoyment, for the reason that this this web page conations genuinely pleasant funny stuff
too.
Leave a comment