Dr John M

cardiac electrophysiologist, cyclist, learner

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The Truth on Cancer Screening

December 8, 2017 By Dr John

This week is Cancer Screen Week. It’s a one-sided campaign sponsored by industry and the American Cancer Society that urges people to get screened.

The truth is that the scientific evidence for cancer screening is not convincing. What’s more, screening comes with potential harms.

I know; it’s counter-intuitive, but it’s what the evidence says.

Benjamin Maser is a medical doctor (pathologist) and writer at Yale.

Check out our editorial on WBUR> Does Cancer Screening Save More Lives Overall? Not Necessarily

By the way, you may be thinking: what does a pathologist and a cardiologist know about cancer screening?

My answer is that one need not be a cancer specialist to interpret basic studies. The controlled trials compare a group of people who got screened vs those who do not. These studies, which we cited in the editorial, show that overall mortality is essentially the same in both groups.

That’s not complicated. Nor is understanding the notion of over-diagnosis and over-treatment.

In the article, we favor honesty, balance and informed decisions–not fear and bullying.

JMM

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Related posts:

  1. A new way to discuss statin drugs
  2. Rethinking Cancer Screening
  3. The truth about early diagnosis — this is more than just a Mammogram story
  4. Screening seemingly healthy young athletes?

Filed Under: Doctoring, Health Care, Healthy Living Tagged With: Cancer, Cancer Screening

John Mandrola, MD

Welcome, Enjoy, Interact. john-mandrola I am a cardiac electrophysiologist practicing in Louisville KY. I am also a husband to a palliative care doctor, a father, a bike racer, and a regular columnist at theHeart.org | Medscape

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For patients...Educational posts

  • 13 things to know about Atrial Fibrillation — 2014
  • A new cure of AF
  • Adding a new verb to doctoring: To deprescribe is to do a lot
  • AF ablation — 2015 A Cautionary Note
  • AF Ablation in 2012–An easier journey?
  • Atrial Flutter — 15 facts you may want to know.
  • Benign PVCs: A heart rhythm doctor’s approach.
  • Caution with early Cardioversion
  • Decisions of 2 low-risk cases of PAF
  • Defining success in AF ablation in 2014
  • Four commonly asked questions on AF ablation
  • Inflammation and AF — Get off the gas
  • Ten things to expect after AF ablation
  • The medical decsion as a gamble
  • The most important verb in our health crisis
  • Wellness Requires Ownership

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