Why Some Doctors Hesitate to Screen Smokers for Lung Cancer (2015) • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Some Doctors Hesitate to Screen Smokers for Lung Cancer (2015)

#91

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 3:39 AM UTC

elhudy wrote: post #73

aladoc99 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the truisms of medicine is that ultimately every disease and every treatment has a 100% mortality, so we can never truly save a life. What we can do is promote the quality and quantity of life. In the US, the rule of thumb is that it's worth spending $50,000 to keep someone alive for a year, with that being the approximate cost of dialysis therapy. So, to save 10 years of life would be expected to be worth spe…

>The other strain in your comment suggests that people who are presumably in some way responsible for their disease are less worthy of care I am stating that people who are presumably in some way responsible for their disease are not MORE worthy of care. It is only these people who are receiving free screenings - as per the article.

[deleted]

Re: Why Some Doctors Hesitate to Screen Smokers for Lung Cancer (2015)

#92

Post by gomijacogeo » Fri, Apr 05, 2019, 8:58 AM UTC

elhudy wrote: post #35

linsomniac wrote: post #19

I've watched my family go through smoking, and cancer hasn't been the issue. I don't know how representative it is, but my experience definitely reflects the premise of this article: cancer testing could have caused way more harm than good. Both my mother and her father were still smoking frequently when they were on oxygen. In other words: When they should have known better. Her mother was looking really bad at 50 a…

This could be the most controversial thing comment I've posted on here, but...: Why are we even spending resources figuring out how to extend the lives of people who have smoked a pack a day, for 30 years, and are currently in old age? Even if we find cancer and save their lives now, will that prevent then from picking up smoking again? Will it prevent the heart disease they're going to encounter ten more years down…

As this was where you made you question, I'll stick with you here in the ruthlessly utilitarian minefield (i.e. people and $$$'s are fungible).

First, a clarification, it's 30 pack-years. There are lots of ways to get to that number. 30 years @ 1 pack/day and 15 years @ 2 packs a day are both 30 pack-years. That number sticks with you even if you quit 20 years ago.

So, especially for the younger end of that range (55yo), people between 55-65 are often in their peak earning years (finally gotten seniority or management) and this is when they are most often finally paying off their debts (mortgage, etc). It's also when they are likely doing peak elder care and also sending their kids to college. So this is the time where they are probably doing their peak economic and social good. If you can catch something that keeps them productive for an additional 10ish years, you've probably come out ahead for it.

Re: Why Some Doctors Hesitate to Screen Smokers for Lung Cancer (2015)

#93

Post by pytyper2 » Sat, Apr 06, 2019, 9:51 PM UTC

NullPrefix wrote: post #58

pytyper2 wrote: post #40

I periodically smoke, yet I don't call myself a smoker. Yet when I buy insurance I buy the smokers plan, the idea being that if I do need to use the insurance I expect the Insurance company to use any information necessary to deny my claim. Should I be worried about this?

Have fun getting any physical activity injury claim denied. Smokers aren't expected to do sports. /s

What does '/s' indicate?

Re: Why Some Doctors Hesitate to Screen Smokers for Lung Cancer (2015)

#94

Post by unchocked » Mon, Apr 08, 2019, 6:11 PM UTC

tomcam wrote: post #82

unchocked wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your 7.3 is gold, that engine will last till the heat death of the universe. And you’re maintaining it. For some reason people think that a well maintained vehicle is a grenade because it has service history, while one being run into the ground is great because they haven’t paid for anything recently. Newer trucks aren’t more reliable. They’re just newer. You won’t find a truck cheaper to maintain than the one you’ve…

Please tell me the story about your mother-in-law is an exaggeration

Nope, literal truth. Lovely lady, but some decisions...