Cancer Detection and Screening: High-Risk Groups

Abstract

Because cancer treatment is most successful, measured as survival, when begun at an early stage, there has been a search for methods capable of identifying early cancers or even premalignant disease. “Screening” as defined as the application of simple tests to a population so as to separate individuals who probably have the disease in question from those who probably do not; positive cases can then be subjected to conventional (more intensive) diagnostic procedures. A distinction is sometimes made from “early diagnosis”, where the individuals tested have symptomatic, although unrecognised disease. Since screening programmes are usually applied to subjects who have not specifically sought medical advice, there is a special obligation to ensure that they are effective in reducing morbidity and mortality.