Lung cancer scans: False alarms amid lives saved

_One percent. The odds of dying from surgery for lung cancer among those in the study. In general practice, it’s 4 percent.

_$300 to $1,200. The average range of charges for a scan. At some private practices it’s up to $2,500 and “there’s a group in Hollywood that’s charging more than that,” said Berg, of the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers plan a cost-effectiveness study and may compare the benefit from scans to smoking cessation efforts.

“People should not take this positive study as `now it is safe to smoke,’” because it isn’t, and quitting remains the best way to lower cancer risk, Brawley said.

The cancer society and other medical groups expect to have screening advice for the public “in a matter of months,” said Dr. Bruce Johnson, a lung cancer expert at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and a board member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, doctors who treat the disease.

“Can society afford it? This comes with a substantial cost,” he said of screening.

___

Online:

New England Journal: http://www.nejm.org

Study Q&A: http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/qa/2002/nlstqaQA

Video discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?vhY6GQnO75Mo

Screening info: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung

___

Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.