Survive lung cancer 2 more years
Lack of communication (and money) kills lung cancer patients
66% of white Lung cancer patients survive longer because they chose surgery
55% of black Lung cancer patients survive longer because they chose surgery
Most lung cancer patients who undergo surgery are still alive three years later, compared with just 10 percent of those who do not. Yet at least one-third of patients choose not to have the operation. Why not?
They choose not to have the surgery , because they don't understand. They don't understand because :
1. The doctor does not take the time to explain that the surgery extends their life by at least 2 years.
2. The patient is intimidated by the doctor or does not understand the doctor.
3. The patient does not have the money to get the operation.
That was the question Dr. Samuel Cykert sought to answer when he and fellow researchers asked 386 new lung cancer patients who were eligible for the operation, called resection, to fill out detailed questionnaires about their backgrounds and access to health care.
The results varied by race. Sixty-six percent of the white patients eventually had the operation; the percentage for blacks was 55, said Dr. Cykert, an internist at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, N.C. and the author of a paper published in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Patients who reported feeling that they did not communicate well with their doctors were less likely to have the operation, as were those who thought they would not necessarily be better off a year later if they had surgery. Black patients were also less likely to opt for surgery if they had other chronic diseases besides cancer.
Let’s throw a few numbers into the mix. Health Day News reports that the average cost of treatment for lung cancer was $39,891 as of 2002. A bandied about figure is $30,000 for the cost of surgery alone.
15% of Americans have no health insurance and therefore are not likely to get surgery for lung cancer.
Obligatory Legal Disclaimer: This research information is provided for personal educational purposes only, and does not constitute a medical claim for any product of any nature whatsoever. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for the diagnosis and treatment of any disease, ailment or medical condition. These Statements have not been approved by the FDA.