The Benefits of Cancer Screening

In the U.S., more than 1.4 million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and more than 500,000 people will die as a direct result of cancer.

The goal of cancer screening is to find cancer early, before symptoms occur, when cancers are much more successfully treated. There are four cancers for which screening tests are recommended by the American Cancer Society or by physician organizations: breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer.

Despite the widespread availability of these cancer screening tests, screening rates remain woefully inadequate.

Cancer screening is among the most important preventative health services. With good adherence to screening recommendations, many lives could be saved. The U.S. National Cancer Institute estimates that as many as 35% of premature deaths from cancer could be prevented through screening. That is why the Partnership for Prevention considers breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening among the top 10 preventative health services. 

Cancer Screening Reduces Healthcare Costs. Late stage cancers are usually diagnosed after symptoms are apparent and are much more costly to treat. Late stage cancer treatment usually includes chemotherapy and radiation in addition to surgery and requires lengthier hospitalization. Moreover, the cost of chemotherapy for treating advanced cancers is rising dramatically with the advent of newer biologic agents like Avastin for colorectal and breast cancer.

A recent study demonstrated that annual screening for colorectal cancer (CRC):

"could not only decrease CRC incidence and mortality, but could actually decrease total overall CRC-related costs (screening, testing, complications and CRC care) if advanced CRC is treated with novel, costly therapies. It is rare for medical interventions to improve outcomes as well as decrease costs."

Source: Parekh, M et al, Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Apr;27(8):697-712. Epub 2008 Jan 29.