Cancer detection centers; the experience to date in California

Cancer "detection centers" (that is, centers for the examination of presumably well or asymptomatic persons) have been tried out in four different California communities during the last three years. In all instances-as in most other such centers throughout the United States-they have not been successful in restricting examination to well persons.The detection centers in California may therefore be described more accurately as "cancer examination and detection clinics."Three of the four centers have been closed owing to the small yield of cancer cases discovered, plus the fact that the cost of operation exceeded the total available funds of the local branch of the Cancer Society. In addition, it was extremely difficult to obtain and maintain competence on the part of the professional staff in such centers.A more practical approach to the problem of earlier tumor detection would appear to be emphasis on making "every physician's office a detection center," and stressing the annual examination of persons over 40 years of age for tumors in the five common accessible sites. These are the tumors most readily curable today.