A senior endocrinologist at KIMS Hospitals has cautioned against the growing use of artificial intelligence-led cancer screening packages after a woman was left fearing she had pancreatic cancer following a premium health check-up.
Dr Hema Venkataraman shared the incident on social media platform X, describing how a distressed woman in her 40s was referred to her after undergoing a screening package costing more than ₹20,000.
According to the doctor, the woman had been informed that she might have pancreatic cancer because her test results showed a mildly elevated level of CA19-9, a blood marker sometimes associated with pancreatic diseases. However, imaging scans reportedly showed no abnormalities.
Concerns over cancer screening practices
Dr Venkataraman said the patient arrived with a detailed report from what appeared to be a premium screening programme that heavily relied on multiple investigations.
She criticised the use of CA19-9 as a routine cancer screening tool, arguing that the marker is not sufficiently reliable to be used as a standalone indicator of cancer risk.
“CA19-9 is a terrible cancer screening tool,” she stated, stressing that medical professionals must understand the limitations of diagnostic tests and ensure appropriate interpretation before recommending further investigations.
Emotional and financial burden
The endocrinologist also questioned why the patient was referred to her simply because the pancreas had been mentioned in the report.
Following consultations with specialists and additional imaging studies, the woman was eventually reassured that she did not have cancer.
However, Dr Venkataraman noted that the reassurance came at a significant emotional and financial cost. According to her estimates, the woman spent approximately ₹20,000 on the initial screening package and another ₹10,000 on follow-up tests to rule out the disease.
Call for evidence-based screening
Using the case as an example, the doctor urged people to seek professional medical advice before opting for extensive health screening packages marketed as advanced or AI-powered solutions.
She emphasised that cancer screening should follow evidence-based medical protocols and involve specialist guidance rather than relying solely on laboratory markers or technology-driven assessments.
The episode has reignited discussions about the growing popularity of preventive health packages and the importance of balancing technological innovation with sound clinical judgement to avoid unnecessary anxiety and healthcare costs.