http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/health/on-medicare-and-assessing-the-value-of-lung-cancer-screening.html?mabReward=CTM&module=WelcomeBackModal&contentCollection=N.Y.%20%2F%20Region&region=FixedCenter&action=click&src=recg&pgtype=article



This is a useful  discussion of screening for lung cancer in individuals who have been heavy smokers, even if they have long since quit smoking.    It parallels my own experience, where some of my patients have remained disease-free for several years after removal of small lung cancers.  And, aside from coincidence, CT scanning is the only way to find small lung cancers.  

I should mention that several of my patients’ have also had other small cancers found this way, particularly kidney cancers.   But, of course, testing can lead one on wild-goose chases that lead to negative biopsies, some with longer-than-ideal recovery periods.  Scanning also can look for other issues, such as aortic aneurysm and coronary arteriosclerosis. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/health/breast-cancer-ductal-carcinoma-in-situ-study.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

This reinforces the opinion that all of my patients have received from my consulting surgeons for several years.   Most patients can be followed closely for years without further or excisional surgery.   There are exceptions, such as BrCa positive patients, or where there is evidence of extensive disease on mammo or MRI.