Estimated lifetime gained with cancer screening tests

ℍ𝕖𝕣𝕖'𝕤 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕝𝕖

Data doesn't support benefit from routine cancer screeening tests

💬 What's up?: Six tests are regularly used for cancer screening and prolonging life expectancy from early diagnosis. They include 1. Fetal occult blood testing, 2. SIgmoidoscopy, or 3. Colonoscopy, 4. CT scan of the lung, 5. Mammography in women and 6. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) in men. This study's goal was to evaluate how much cancer screening may enhance life expectancy and to see if screening tests have a meaningful influence on lifespan. 2,111,958 individuals formed the population for the analysis.

➡️ What's new?

According to the study, only one of the six screening tests, sigmoidoscopy, substantially increases life expectancy by 110 days.

• Faecal tests and mammography screening did not appear to improve life expectancy.

• Estimates for prostate cancer and lung cancer screening are questionable.

• According to the study, the lack of enhanced lifespan with screening might be attributed to competing causes of mortality as well.

✅ 𝕄𝕪 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖-𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 || The authors suggest that estimates of life extension due to screening be utilised in shared decision-making with people considering taking a screening test.

• The study also argues that alternative preventative strategies, such as obesity treatment or cardiovascular disease prevention, should take precedence over cancer screening in public health campaigns.

• The study emphasises the necessity of considering quality of life as well as lifespan when determining the appropriateness of cancer screening tests.

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