Why Is Nonadherence to Cancer Screening Associated With Increased Mortality?

In this issue ofJAMA Internal Medicine, Pierre-Victor and Pinsky use data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening trial to demonstrate an association between lack of adherence to cancer screening and increased mortality from causes not related to the screening. Participants in the PLCO Cancer Screening trial were 55 to 74 years of age and generally healthy. At trial entry, participants of both sexes in the screening arm were asked to undergo chest radiographs for lung cancer and flexible sigmoidoscopy for colon cancer, men were asked to undergo prostate-specific antigen tests and digital rectal examinations for prostate cancer, and women were asked to undergo cancer antigen 125 tests and transvaginal ultrasonography for ovarian cancer. Those randomized to the control group received usual care.
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Source Type: research