Michael Stefanek
Uninformed Compliance or Informed Choice? A Needed Shift in Our Approach to Cancer Screening
Indiana University Bloomington
30 years since first consensus development meeting held deal guidelines mammography screening although national cancer institute wisely focused science screening screening benefits vs harm many professional organizations advocacy groups media maintained focus establishing screened promoting recommendations age groups screened guidelines developed mammography also screening virtually major cancer sites especially prostate cancer recently preliminary results national lung screening trial lung cancer seems clear done inadequate job educating screening candidates harms benefits cancer screening including extent screening reduce cancer mortality must also question whether practice summoning women mammograms providing men informed choice prostate cancer screening consistent scientific analysis relative harms benefits spent staggering amount time energy past several decades developing discussing debating guidelines professional advocacy groups spent much time aggressively advocating adoption guidelines supported respective groups seems would much productive devote energy educating screening candidates harms benefits screening engaging shared decision making