Although cancer screening saves lives, it comes at a high cost. Americans spend at least $43 billion each year on tests that check for five major cancers, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers focused on screenings for breast, cervical, colon, lung and prostate cancers, using data from 2021. Dr. Michael Halpern of the National Cancer Institute's health care delivery research program and lead author of the study told the New York Times that his team was surprised by the high cost.

The study also found that the $43.2 billion total was less than the reported cost of cancer treatment within the first 12 months after diagnosis, an indication of the cost-effectiveness of early screening. Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society, believes the results justify the cost.