Now Reading: Not all cancer tests are useful: Know which ones help
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Not all cancer tests are useful: Know which ones help
A full-body cancer check-up may sound reassuring, but more tests do not always mean better protection, warns Dr Varun Goel in Times Now. Over-diagnosis and false alarms from unnecessary scans, like whole-body…
The Story in Brief
A full-body cancer check-up may sound reassuring, but more tests do not always mean better protection, warns Dr Varun Goel in Times Now. Over-diagnosis and false alarms from unnecessary scans, like whole-body PET-CTs, can lead to avoidable procedures and anxiety. Proven screening, however, does save lives: mammograms for women aged 40-54 reduce breast cancer deaths; HPV and Pap tests catch cervical precancer from age 25; and colonoscopy or stool tests for colorectal cancer start around age 45. Lung cancer CT scanning is recommended only for heavy smokers aged 50-80 with at least a 20 pack-year history. For healthy non-smokers, annual CTs offer no benefit over evidence-based prevention.
The Indian Opinion
The relentless drumbeat of 'early detection saves lives' has created a booming market for full-body scans that often cause more harm than good. Indian clinics happily sell expensive packages promising peace of mind, but patients end up with false alarms, needless biopsies and sky-high anxiety. The real scandal is that this profit-driven panic distracts from proven, cost-effective screening like mammograms, Pap smears and colonoscopies that actually reduce deaths. Until regulators crack down on misleading 'executive health check' ads, consumers must ask one blunt question: 'Does the test reduce my risk of dying, or just my bank balance?'
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
