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.
The analysis, published on Monday in The Annals of Internal Medicine and based on data for the year 2021, shows that cancer screening makes up a substantial proportion of what is spent every year on cancer in the United States, which most likely exceeds $250 billion.
The researchers focused their estimate on breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers, and found that more than 88 percent of screening was paid for by private insurance and the rest mostly by government programs.
For Karen E. Knudsen, the chief executive of the American Cancer Society, the value of screening for the cancers is clear.
It’s the right thing to do for individuals.”
Persons:
Michael Halpern, Karen E, Knudsen, ”
Organizations:
United, Internal, Cancer, American Cancer Society
Locations:
United States