3 ms·
Get CAT scans. It should be noted that at the moment, the researchers are still working on determining which of the 8 cancers is present in the case of a posit
by rocqua 9y ago
Get CAT scans.
It should be noted that at the moment, the researchers are still working on determining which of the 8 cancers is present in the case of a positive result.
- vidarh 9y agoCAT scans are insufficient to determine if a growth is malignant in many cases. Which would lead you down the road to biopsies, which are also insufficient in many cases. Which would lead to unnecessary radiotherapy, chemo or operations in at least some cases.
- wiz21c 9y agoAre they insufficient because of the way they work, or because their current resolution is too low ?
- cfmcdonald 9y agoCAT scans by themselves are also a pretty major radiation dose which slightly increases your risk for cancer.
- rocqua 9y agoIf there is no way to determine whether a growth is malignant, we are fucked any way. Certainly, this is not the point of a screening test. Screening tests are about cheaply directing further testing.
- vidarh 9y agoIt is often possible, but not always. The problem is that for cancer even a lot of that testing is either inconclusive and/or harmful in itself. So for every false positive, and even positive tests where the tumor will never harm the patient, there is a chance of active harm being done. Including causing death. Early screening will occasionally save some. The question is whether it will save enough to make up for that harm if we increase the frequency of testing.