Not All Cancer Screening Tests Are Foolproof
Although many screening tests have been shown to save lives, there is debate in the medical community about cancer screening.
Not all screening tests are useful, and many can pose risks. For instance, the PSA test is controversial because it sometimes detects prostate cancers that are so slow-growing as not to be life-threatening, which sometimes prompts overtreatment.
Some screening tests can produce inaccurate results, such as a “false positive” or a “false negative.” A false positive means your test comes back abnormal even though you don’t have cancer. This can cause unnecessary worry and anxiety. A false negative result comes back normal when you really have cancer. This can lead to delayed treatment, and sometimes, a worse prognosis.
Another potential issue with early screening is that finding the cancer may or may not improve a person’s health or the chance of a cure.
Discuss the benefits and risks of cancer screening with your doctor.
