Comments on: The Problem with Breast and Prostate Cancer Screening http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/ Affecting NC public policy through informed, energetic and progressive conversations. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:14:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Progressive Pulse – Scientist Who Discovered PSA: It doesn’t work as a test for prostate cancer http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-66260 The Progressive Pulse – Scientist Who Discovered PSA: It doesn’t work as a test for prostate cancer Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:56:51 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-66260 [...] written before here about the reasons why the PSA test for prostate cancer isn’t worth doing as a general [...] [...] written before here about the reasons why the PSA test for prostate cancer isn’t worth doing as a general [...]

]]> By: The Progressive Pulse – Breast cancer screening change shouldn’t be a surprise http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-49745 The Progressive Pulse – Breast cancer screening change shouldn’t be a surprise Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:52:19 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-49745 [...] the American Cancer Society, although it hasn’t changed its current recommendations, is reported to be reevaluating the evidence on certain types of screening as [...] [...] the American Cancer Society, although it hasn’t changed its current recommendations, is reported to be reevaluating the evidence on certain types of screening as [...]

]]> By: jeffrey dach md http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-47408 jeffrey dach md Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:23:42 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-47408 Although PSA screening eradicated advanced prostate cancer from the population, there was a downside. According to Welch's report in August JNCI, one million men were overdiagnosed and overtreated for prostate cancer over the last twenty years. Why was PSA Screening for Prostate Cancer, a 20 year failed Medical Experiment ? Get the whole story here... http://jeffreydach.com/2009/10/01/psa-testing-the-failed-medical-experiment-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx Although PSA screening eradicated advanced prostate cancer from the population, there was a downside.

According to Welch’s report in August JNCI, one million men were overdiagnosed and overtreated for prostate cancer over the last twenty years.

Why was PSA Screening for Prostate Cancer, a 20 year failed Medical Experiment ? Get the whole story here…

http://jeffreydach.com/2009/10/01/psa-testing-the-failed-medical-experiment-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx

]]> By: Adam Searing http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-47369 Adam Searing Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:26:09 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-47369 Thanks Amy for commenting and clarifying that ACS continues to support their current guidelines on screening as they continue to review the literature. I think that is the only position that makes sense! However, I would disagree with some of ACS’s Dr. Len Lichtenfeld’s thoughts you cite about public reporting of this type of review. I think that full and open debate is important around issues like the efficacy of screening – especially given the high stakes involved. While they might not be perfect, stories like the NYT’s move that debate forward. I think it is a disservice to the many thoughtful people we have spoken with all over North Carolina about the complex ins and outs of health reform this summer to think that they – as Dr. Lichtenfeld asserts – “will miss the nuances of the experts’ arguments” on debates like this. On the contrary, our experience has been at the Health Access Coalition that people are becoming increasing well-versed in some pretty complicated issues around health care and are able to articulate those views and add to the debate. We all want what is best for people facing serious disease and that’s why both ACS and the NC Justice Center and many, many others support health care reform. As we win that debate however, we are starting to have the luxury of approaching the many other questions on how to improve the effectiveness and quality of care, which many turn out to be even tougher! Thanks Amy for commenting and clarifying that ACS continues to support their current guidelines on screening as they continue to review the literature. I think that is the only position that makes sense!

However, I would disagree with some of ACS’s Dr. Len Lichtenfeld’s thoughts you cite about public reporting of this type of review. I think that full and open debate is important around issues like the efficacy of screening – especially given the high stakes involved. While they might not be perfect, stories like the NYT’s move that debate forward.

I think it is a disservice to the many thoughtful people we have spoken with all over North Carolina about the complex ins and outs of health reform this summer to think that they – as Dr. Lichtenfeld asserts – “will miss the nuances of the experts’ arguments” on debates like this. On the contrary, our experience has been at the Health Access Coalition that people are becoming increasing well-versed in some pretty complicated issues around health care and are able to articulate those views and add to the debate.

We all want what is best for people facing serious disease and that’s why both ACS and the NC Justice Center and many, many others support health care reform. As we win that debate however, we are starting to have the luxury of approaching the many other questions on how to improve the effectiveness and quality of care, which many turn out to be even tougher!

]]> By: IBXer http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-47352 IBXer Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:21:28 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-47352 I am sure we will all be a lot heathier when we can only get the care the government deems cost effective... I am sure we will all be a lot heathier when we can only get the care the government deems cost effective…

]]> By: Www.composition4u.info » "Power Point: American medicine overpromised on cancer screening" and related posts http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-47321 Www.composition4u.info » "Power Point: American medicine overpromised on cancer screening" and related posts Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:56:47 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-47321 [...] The Problem with Breast and Prostate Cancer Screening - The Progressive Pulse [...] [...] The Problem with Breast and Prostate Cancer Screening - The Progressive Pulse [...]

]]> By: Amy Swygert http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-47312 Amy Swygert Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:52:42 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-47312 I work for the American Cancer Society and want to be sure that your readers know that Society continues to believe in the importance of cancer screening (particularly breast, cervical and colon cancer screening) and stands behind its current screening guidelines which can be found here http://bit.ly/LrXWv. Earlier today, the Society issued a statement from our Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley about the New York Times story http://bit.ly/32CMqH and the Society's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, blogged about the story behind the story here http://bit.ly/25O8aK. I work for the American Cancer Society and want to be sure that your readers know that Society continues to believe in the importance of cancer screening (particularly breast, cervical and colon cancer screening) and stands behind its current screening guidelines which can be found here http://bit.ly/LrXWv. Earlier today, the Society issued a statement from our Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley about the New York Times story http://bit.ly/32CMqH and the Society’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, blogged about the story behind the story here http://bit.ly/25O8aK.

]]> By: Adam Searing http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-47311 Adam Searing Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:28:48 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-47311 I think we have to go by the increasing body of evidence - like the American Cancer Society is now doing - and the increasing body of evidence supports less screening in many cases. I'm all for screening if we know it is effective. But I don't think ACS, who has erred on the side of screening on this question for many years, is rethinking its position lightly. I think we have to go by the increasing body of evidence – like the American Cancer Society is now doing – and the increasing body of evidence supports less screening in many cases. I’m all for screening if we know it is effective. But I don’t think ACS, who has erred on the side of screening on this question for many years, is rethinking its position lightly.

]]> By: Aftercancer http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-47300 Aftercancer Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:37:13 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-47300 I have to question the validity of comparing breast cancer to prostate cancer in terms of whether it needs to be treated. Prostate cancer, in most cases, is a very slow growing cancer. Breast cancer has variable growth times so it is much harder to determine which patient has the cancer "that would never spread, kill, etc". A a breast cancer survivor diagnosed at age 38 you'll never convince me that screening for breast cancer is not beneficial, even if the answer is watchful waiting. I have to question the validity of comparing breast cancer to prostate cancer in terms of whether it needs to be treated. Prostate cancer, in most cases, is a very slow growing cancer. Breast cancer has variable growth times so it is much harder to determine which patient has the cancer “that would never spread, kill, etc”. A a breast cancer survivor diagnosed at age 38 you’ll never convince me that screening for breast cancer is not beneficial, even if the answer is watchful waiting.

]]> By: The Progressive Pulse – The Problem with Breast and Prostate … | Greatwelfare-Health http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/10/21/the-problem-with-breast-and-prostate-cancer-screening/#comment-47293 The Progressive Pulse – The Problem with Breast and Prostate … | Greatwelfare-Health Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:36:20 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=9184#comment-47293 [...] Go here to see the original: The Progressive Pulse – The Problem with Breast and Prostate … [...] [...] Go here to see the original: The Progressive Pulse – The Problem with Breast and Prostate … [...]

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