Syöpäseulonnat

Syöpäseulonnat, also known as cancer screening, are medical tests used to detect cancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease. The goal of screening is to find cancer at an early stage, when it is more likely to be treatable and curable. Different screening methods are used for different types of cancer. For example, mammography is used to screen for breast cancer, colonoscopy for colorectal cancer, and Pap smears and HPV tests for cervical cancer. Prostate cancer screening may involve a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam. Lung cancer screening is recommended for certain high-risk individuals, typically smokers, and involves low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans.

The effectiveness of screening programs depends on several factors, including the accuracy of the tests, the stage at which cancer is detected, and the availability and uptake of the screening. While screening can significantly reduce mortality from certain cancers, it is not without potential harms. These can include false-positive results, which lead to further anxiety and unnecessary invasive tests, and false-negative results, which may provide a false sense of security. Overdiagnosis, where screen-detected cancers are found that would never have caused harm during a person's lifetime, is also a concern. Decisions about participating in cancer screening should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional, considering individual risk factors and the benefits and harms of the specific screening test. Regular updates on screening guidelines are issued by health authorities based on the latest research.