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Updated: May 16, 2026
09:19
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo
Published on: February 6, 2015
Principles, effectiveness and caveats in screening for cancer
1Department of Health Management and Health Economy, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Norway. michael.bretthauer@medisin.uio.no
The British Journal of Surgery
|December 6, 2012
Summary
Cancer screening can reduce cancer incidence and mortality, but potential harms like overdiagnosis must be addressed. Effective communication about benefits and risks is crucial for public understanding and informed decisions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Diagnostic Medicine
Background:
- Cancer screening offers potential benefits in reducing disease incidence and mortality.
- However, screening can also lead to harms and unwanted side-effects, necessitating careful evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain fundamental principles of cancer screening.
- To identify common pitfalls in evaluating screening effectiveness and harms.
- To summarize evidence on the effects and harms of widely used cancer screening tools.
Main Methods:
- Review of established cancer screening principles.
- Analysis of evaluation methodologies for screening effectiveness and harms.
- Synthesis of evidence for common cancer screening tools.
Main Results:
- Established screening for breast, lung, prostate, cervical, and colorectal cancers.
- Screening for colorectal and cervical cancers can decrease incidence; others detect early disease.
- Overdiagnosis is a challenge in lung, prostate, and breast cancer screening; quality improvement is a noted side-effect.
Conclusions:
- Cancer screening is established for several cancers in Europe with potential for incidence and mortality reduction.
- Acknowledged harms associated with screening require careful management and public communication.
- Emerging screening technologies necessitate adherence to basic evaluation and implementation requirements.
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