Evidence of Benefit of Screening in Other Cancers

Cancer screening has been studied extensively in recent years. There is now considerable evidence to suggest that screening for cervical, colorectal, and breast cancers can effectively reduce mortality. Thus, screening may eventually play a significant role in reducing cancer mortality throughout the world. However, we must also consider the impact of screening on the quality of life. After all, cancer screening targets large, asymptomatic populations, and its impact on the quality of life is therefore of paramount concern. Breast cancer screening, in particular, has been the subject of intense investigation and controversy in recent years. In this review, I shall discuss the progress made in our understanding of cancer screening, with particular emphasis on what we have learned about breast cancer screening.