Articles Posted in ‘screening’

The Role of Fecal Occult Blood Testing in Colorectal Cancer Screening

Credit: NCI

Each year nearly 150,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and around 50,000 die from the disease. Studies have shown that when performed every one to two years in people ages 50 to 80, fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) can help reduce the number of deaths from colorectal cancer by 15 to [...]

Modeling Different Breast Cancer Screening Strategies

mammogram2

A new study which uses modeling to summarize the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening finds that regular mammography screening for women ages 50 to 74 reduces the risk of dying due to breast cancer, with a smaller benefit for women 40 to 49. False-positives tests and overdiagnosis are of concern for all ages, although false positives are more common for women in their forties, and over-diagnosis is more of a concern for older women.

Communication: Playing an Integral Role in Cancer Prevention, Screening and Treatment

A family tree showing inheritance of a mutated gene

When it comes to their health, people have distinctive ways of making decisions, understanding their individual risks, and carrying out recommended screening, treatment and follow-up regimens. Behavioral scientists are learning that in order to overcome the cognitive, emotional, and practical barriers to effective healthcare, doctors need to recognize their patients’ individual information-processing styles and adjust their communication styles accordingly