The hosts discuss the limitations of cancer screenings and how high-risk individuals are often neglected in trials. They explore the psychological effects of screening and the difficulty in making decisions after a cancer diagnosis. Additionally, they discuss the concept of competing risks and the limitations of cancer screening in older individuals.
Early detection of cancer seems like a very good idea. But it's a lot more complicated than it seems. Oncologist and epidemiologist Vinay Prasad of the University of California, San Francisco talks to EconTalk's Russ Roberts about why many tests to detect cancer do little or nothing to extend lifespan.