Cancer screening has limited benefit
One upshot of the decades-long fight against cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is the popular belief that healthy people should regularly examine their bodies or undergo screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to because early detection saves lives. This breast cancer story in the New York Times questions the effectiveness of cancer screening. Except for a few types of cancer, routine screening has not been proven to reduce the death toll from cancer for people without specific symptoms or risk factors — like a breast lump or a family history of cancer — and could even lead to harm, many experts on health say.
