The same could be said for many tests that are conducted, as you almost need to look at the quality of life at this age and determine is the cure worth the effort. As long as insurance compensation will pay for those who do want the procedure, then it should be an individual decision on the part of the patient.
One other development that might lend some additional information is the development of a test through genomics that would help determine treatment outcomes from the start. BD
In a move that could lead to significant changes in medical care for older men, a national task force on Monday recommended that doctors stop screening men ages 75 and older for prostate cancer because the search for the disease in this group was causing more harm than good.
Panel Urges End to Screening For Prostate Cancer at Age 75 - NYTimes.com
This week we heard that screening for prostate cancer may do more harm than good—particularly for older men. I understand that, I suppose. Prostate cancer tends to grow slowly, and the significance of test results is not entirely clear.
ReplyDeleteI worry that in a twist of logic we will generalize a very specific recommendation. I worry that the message will shift from “Men over 75 should not be screened for prostate cancer” to “No-one should be screened for prostate cancer” to (and this is the scariest part) “I shouldn’t be screened for any cancer.”
Every day in the United States more than 100 people die of colorectal cancer because they weren’t screened when they should have been. Every day.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in this country, yet a simple screening will reduce the risk of having this disease by 80% or more.
The debate about prostate cancer screening will go on for a long time. One thing is not debatable though—cancer screening in general, and screening for colon cancer in particular, saves lives.
Tim Turnham, CEO
Colon Cancer Alliance
http://coloncancer.typepad.com/
I agree with any kind of screening, it can't hurt and does save lives, breast cancer too.
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