ANY CANCER SCREENING FAILS…We are so incredibly focused on treatment in this country that our definition of “prevention” has become so skewed as to believe that by finding something early we are “preventing” it. What’s smarter…moving the gas can without a cap from next to the gas water heater or putting up a smoke detector in the garage, in case it goes up in flames? Would anyone in their right minds consider a smoke detector as “preventative?” Just ask a fireman. So why do we accept a different, lower standard with our health? Mammography has rightfully come under fire and now we’re seeing that the PSA for prostate cancer is failing the litmus test as well. The sad thing is that, despite evidence of very significant harms, public health continues to recommend these screening tests and NOT advocate prevention. Both breast and prostate cancer are highly preventable, even if every member of your family has had terminal cases. Plant based diets, avoidance of processed foods, reduction in exposure to toxic chemicals (how many of you have your house sprayed for bugs?), exercise, Vit D and stress reduction all go a long way towards prevention of cancers, THAT WE HAVE NO GOOD SCREENING TOOLS FOR!
prostate cancer screening
PSA Testing: Is Medicine’s Idea of Prevention Falling Apart?
IS MAINSTREAM MEDICINE’S IDEA OF “PREVENTION” FALLING APART?
While there is a clear distinction between early detection and prevention, mainstream medicine does not seem to recognize this. Mammography, colonoscopy, PSA screening…these are all designed to catch disease in its early stage, but they are all catching the DISEASE (or at least the precursor to the disease like a polyp).
None of these actually address preventing the disease or condition in the first place. Is it just me that seems disturbed by this?
Further confounding this issue is that we are beginning to find that mainstream medicine’s “prevention” is doing more harm than good. Mammography’s effectiveness has come under fire (many lesions can resolve spontaneously, leading to high levels of overtreatment) and now PSA is under the same level of scrutiny. The bottom line is that lifestyle changes NEED to be implemented instead of relying solely on early detection.