[Screening for occult malignancies (breast, colorectum, prostate) beyond the usual age limits].
The utility of screening for occult malignancies in very elderly people is controversial. Indeed, the following factors must be taken into account: increasing life expectancy, better efficacy and tolerability of cancer therapies, the cost of screening, and medico-legal issues. The dilemma is between missing a curable cancer and over-diagnosing and over-treating a vulnerable patient. Proper patient information is clearly needed The informed patient's own preference is crucially important. This paper focuses on the most frequent malignancies that can be detected by screening, namely breast, colorectal and prostate cancer.
Rouësse
Jacques
J
Association pour le dépistage des cancers des Hauts de Seine (ADK 92), 10, rue des Carriers, 92000 Nanterre.
Fourme
Emmanuelle
E
Dehe
Sophie
S
Brain
Etienne
E
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*