Study Puts a $43 Billion Yearly Price Tag on Cancer Screening

The United States spent $43 billion annually on screening to prevent five cancers, according to one of the most comprehensive estimates of medically recommended cancer testing ever produced.

For Karen E. Knudsen, the chief executive of the American Cancer Society, the value of screening for the cancers is clear. “We are talking about people’s lives,” she said. “Early detection allows a better chance of survival. Full stop. It’s the right thing to do for individuals.”

“We screen for cancer because it works,” Dr. Knudsen added. “The cost is small compared to the cost of being diagnosed with late-stage disease.”

NY Times - Aug. 5, 2024