Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Susceptible to Persuasion in Certain Matters

OK, I’ve read this in exactly one place now but that’s good enough for me.
“There is very little evidence, if any, that doing [comprehensive] exams yearly on patients without symptoms is good for anything," said Dr. Ned Calonge, chairman of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which does not endorse yearly physicals.

Experts question many of the tests traditionally performed during these visits. Chest X-rays, for example, can detect lung cancer but have not been shown to prevent deaths from the disease. Nor are rectal exams useful as screening tools for rectal or prostate cancer.
Unclenching even as I write.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny how information with opposite recommendations can come out from the medical community within a short amount of time.

This article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/17/AR2007011702324.html states that cancer deaths have declined over the past few years. Screening was a factor in this decline, or so they say.

JeromeProphet said...

Yearly chest xray?

That's like asking for cancer.

After fifty it's best to take the car in for an annual check up - and when I say annual I mean...

JP