Screening for prevention and early diagnosis of cancer.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0037357
• Publication Date: 2015-03-02T17:57:43Z
• Authors: Jane Wardle; Kathryn Robb; Sally Vernon; Jo Waller
• Keywords: Overdiagnosis; Cancer screening; Worry

The poor outcomes for cancers diagnosed at an advanced stage have been the driver behind research into techniques to detect disease before symptoms are manifest. For cervical and colorectal cancer, detection treatment of "precancers" can prevent development a form primary prevention. other cancers-breast, prostate, lung, ovarian-screening is secondary prevention, aiming improve through earlier diagnosis. International national expert organizations regularly assess balance benefits harms screening technologies, issuing clinical guidelines population-wide implementation. Psychological has made important contributions this process, assessing psychological costs possible (e.g., impact false positive results) public tolerance overdiagnosis. Cervical, colorectal, breast currently recommended, ovarian under active review. Once technologies in place, delivery implemented according health care system country, with invitation systems provider recommendations playing key role. Behavioral scientists then investigate how individuals make decisions, knowledge, perceived cancer risk, worry, normative beliefs about screening, information be used develop strategies promote uptake. This article describes current options, discusses behavioral designed reduce underscreening minimize inequalities, considers issues that being raised by informed decision making risk-stratified approaches screening.