Facebook Pixel

Cancer: Overdiagnosis May Be an Ongoing Problem

By HERWriter
 
Rate This

According to research in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the problem of overdiagnosis is growing. More and more people are being told they have cancer, and are possibly being presented with daunting treatment plans for it, when they don't have cancer at all.

Dr. Gilbert Welch and Dr. William Black of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont, and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, have been studying this. They say that approximately one quarter of breast cancer diagnoses that have been determined from mammograms are actually cases of overdiagnosis. Approximately 60 percent of prostate cancer diagnoses that have been determined through the use of antigen or PSA tests, may also have been cases of overdiagnosis. And about half of lung cancer screening tests may result in overdiagnosis as well.

" 'The researchers pointed out several ways to address the problem of overdiagnosis. For starters, they suggested educating patients about the risks and benefits involved with early detection. Another strategy: raising the threshold at which screening test results are labeled "abnormal" and treatment is needed.' "

http://www.naturalnews.com/028870_cancer_overdiagnosis.html

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Jody Smith
Champion
HERWriter View Profile Send Message

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.