Getting tested to detect cancer early is one of the best ways to stay
healthy--or is it? In this lively, carefully researched book, a
nationally recognized expert on early cancer detection challenges one of
medicine's most widely accepted beliefs: that the best defense against
cancer is to always try to catch it early. Read this book and you will
think twice about common cancer screening tests such as total body
scans, mammograms, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests.
Combining patient stories and solid data on common cancers, Dr. H.
Gilbert Welch makes the case that testing healthy people for cancer is
really a double-edged sword: while these tests may help, they often have
surprisingly little effect and are sometimes even harmful. Bringing
together a body of little-known medical research in an engaging and
accessible style, he discusses in detail the pitfalls of screening
tests, showing how they can miss some cancers, how they can lead to
invasive, unnecessary treatments, and how they can distract doctors from
other important issues. Welch's conclusions are powerful,
counterintuitive, and disturbing: the early detection of cancer does not
always save lives, it can be hard to know who really has early cancer,
and there are some cancers better left undiscovered.
Should I Be Tested for Cancer? is the only book to clearly and simply
lay out the pros and cons of cancer testing for the general public. It
is indispensable reading for the millions of Americans who repeatedly
face screening tests and who want to make better-informed decisions
about their own health care.
