As reported by the Annals of Family Medicine, cancer screening frequently yields false positives — with resulting invasive procedures.
Researchers studied nearly 68,500 adults, aged 55 to 74, who underwent up to 14 screenings over 3 years in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Tests included digital rectal examination plus prostate-specific antigen measurement; chest x-ray; flexible sigmoidoscopy; and cancer antigen 125 testing plus transvaginal ultrasound.Among the findings:
The researchers conclude that providers “should educate patients about the likelihood of false positives and resulting diagnostic interventions when counseling about cancer screening.”