Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ®): Screening - Patient Information [NCI]-What Is Cancer Screening?
Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ®): Screening - Patient Information [NCI]-What Is Cancer Screening?
Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ®): Screening - Patient Information [NCI] Guide
Finding the cancer may not improve the person's health or help the person live longer.
Some cancers never cause symptoms or become life-threatening, but if found by a screening test, the cancer may be treated. There is no way to know if treating the cancer would help the person live longer than if no treatment were given. In both teenagers and adults, there is an increased risk of suicide in the first year after being diagnosed with cancer. Also, treatments for cancer have side effects.
For some cancers, finding and treating the cancer early does not improve the chance of a cure or help the person live longer.
The PDQ cancer screening summaries are written to help people learn about screening tests.
Scientists study screening tests to find those with the fewest risks and most benefits. The PDQ cancer screening summaries are based on the results of these studies and other scientific information about cancer risk and screening tests. The summaries are written to give readers the most current information about standard screening tests and tests that are being studied in clinical trials.
It can be hard to make decisions about screening tests. Before having any screening test, you may want to discuss the test with your doctor.
Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ®): Screening - Patient Information [NCI] - What Is Cancer Screening?
Cancer Screening Overview (PDQ®): Screening - Patient Information [NCI] Guide
- What Is Cancer Screening?
- What Are the Goals of Screening Tests?
- Who Needs to Be Screened?
- How is Cancer Risk Measured?
- Does Screening Help People Live Longer?
- How do Screening Tests Become Standard Tests?
- Changes to This Summary (07 / 02 / 2014)
- About This PDQ Summary
- Questions or Comments About This Summary
- Get More Information From NCI
Finding the cancer may not improve the person's health or help the person live longer.
Some cancers never cause symptoms or become life-threatening, but if found by a screening test, the cancer may be treated. There is no way to know if treating the cancer would help the person live longer than if no treatment were given. In both teenagers and adults, there is an increased risk of suicide in the first year after being diagnosed with cancer. Also, treatments for cancer have side effects.
For some cancers, finding and treating the cancer early does not improve the chance of a cure or help the person live longer.
The PDQ cancer screening summaries are written to help people learn about screening tests.
Scientists study screening tests to find those with the fewest risks and most benefits. The PDQ cancer screening summaries are based on the results of these studies and other scientific information about cancer risk and screening tests. The summaries are written to give readers the most current information about standard screening tests and tests that are being studied in clinical trials.
It can be hard to make decisions about screening tests. Before having any screening test, you may want to discuss the test with your doctor.