This week, we are shifting gears again to present the concepts of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in a different light.
In the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) published on August 21, 2017, there is an article in the Humanities section entitled “The unintended consequences of overinvestigating incidentalomas.” It tells the true story of a 19-year-old epidemiology student who suffered a hip injury after a bike crash. An x-ray led to more x-rays, blood tests, CT, MRI and oncology referral and a two and a half year journey as an oncology patient before it was finally determined that the tumours seen initially were not cancer.
In the words of Dr. Mike Evans, “stories trump data”, and this one goes on to document the sequelae of an overdiagnosis on future health issues and life in general.
It is certainly worth a read to put into perspective all the data, RCT’s, guidelines, reviews, expert opinions that we are faced with on an exponentially. Check out the full article in our Quick Links section and enjoy a meaningful read that will really make you think.
