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Sure but the current state of affairs is clearly not optimal from an individual patients perspective. You notice this as you hit 40, 50 years old.

I know multiple "woops we don't screen often/early/proactively for that" cancer deaths in mid 30s to mid 50s.

I even know a few "wow good thing you had that CT scan for xyz, we just found some unrelated Stage 2 cancer elsewhere" people.

I know ZERO "oops false positive, we killed you with an invasive procedure" deaths. I know they happen, just clear to me its less often than the above.



From now on we should probably make all medical decisions treatment decisions based upon your steveBK's personal experiences.


Maybe you are young and/or lucky, but you'll find over time an increasingly disconcerting amount of friends&family dying preventable/otherwise treatable (with screening) deaths from cancer.

Note I said "from an individuals perspective". It is possible for the system to be optimized from a cost/benefit system level perspective without it providing the best possible outcome for each individual. Given that its run by the government & for-profit insurance, this is probably the case.

I think it is a bit hard to argue that the US medical system in general is perfect, and beyond reproach. Let alone the gaps in our pro-active cancer screening. Places like South Korea and China do far more, with less.


Can you please let me know which part of my reply made you think I was arguing that the US medical system is perfect?




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