Cancer Screening: Doing More Harm than Good?

Here is a survivor story . Google, Jennifer Conus Northwest Hospital. Jennifer is my daughter. The losers in this debate raised by this story are the families and friends of those that used the information in this story to refuse screening tests and die. The winners in this debate are insurance companies that don't have to pay for these life preserving screening tests.

Early detection is the key to cancer survival and to suggest it is other wise is immoral, people will use this suggestion to make a life and death decisions about their health. If they mistrust the medical profession , fear the side effect of the screening processes and buy into the conspiracy rhetoric promoted in this story (“Cancer Screening: Doing More Harm than Good?” by Shannon Brownlee.) they will make the wrong decision and die. Here is a survivor story . Google,

I’m glad this article was printed. Until Doctors start treating cancer patients as individuals instead of numbers, and tailor treatment to the patient instead of a one treatment fits all approach. This is good for some but bad for others. It’s nice to know that someone out there that is willing to look at both sides of an issue.

As an RN who administers medications during colonoscopies, the first thing I'm doing when I turn 50 is get a colonoscopy. Patients should evaluate their endoscopist based upon reaching the cecum, polyp detection, # of cases performed, and complications, among others. This article is misleading because most people lack the ability to make rational decisions and risk assessments. My personal risk is for heart disease and diabetes, but 2/3 of people have no family history of colorectal cancer.

Shannon- Thank you. Thank you for giving Americans another reason for putting their colonoscopies, PSA, and mammogram tests off. Some of the facts you mentioned may be true, but what about the millions of people who caught their cancer early and required no treatment. Way to present both sides of the story. Signed, A colon cancer patient fighting for her life

8 years ago I had one breast removed because I was diagnosed with cancer. The surgeon said he got it all. The onocologist said I needed radiation and chemo just to be sure. I said I would not be bar-b-qued and my surgeon agreed. The onocologist was quite put out. I have good insurance and I guess it was upsetting to him that I didn't use it for treatments I didn't need.

the fact that, am a low income earner and live in a remote part of nigeria. I also believe that, you can do well by helping some of us we free packages like the condense books so that our long association with you can be kept alive with solid memories. My thumbs up to the entire crew of this small but meaningful and all inspiring magazine. May i also use this medium to say tanks for the good job you are doing in the area of health related awareness, this is a humanitarian job . So a big kudos

I wasnt a subscriber to Reader's Digest but, you can sign me up right now. I had completely stopped buying magazines because you couldn't find one that didnt contain an article on breast or colon cancer. Occasionally we all need a break from obssessing on our health. Nice to know I can have a magazine that will give me more than one side. I even hate the color pink now because women aren't smart enough to realize how badly they are being used by big medicine. Women organizing good, lies bad.

BRAVO TO REDAERS DIGEST AND MS BROWNLEE. For too long doctors have acted like they personally did the research when all they have are somebody elses statistics to go by. I actually asked a doctor what his personal experience was when it came to the effect of diagnostics and medications on HIS patients. He said he "didn't know, he doesn't keep up with that stuff". It is time people had the courage to think and research for themselves. BOO to the people who didnt want this printed.

Bravo, RD! I quit reading RD long ago because I got fed up with all the mindless pro big pharma articles. "Cancer" is not the enemy. Environmental challenges to the immune system are. Quit smoking, boycott sugar, take a walk, forgive trespasses, and watch out for hormone disrupters and machines that go "ping!"