What are the Benefits and Risks of Cancer Screening?

The primary benefit of cancer screening is the potential for early detection and treatment, which can significantly improve survival rates. However, screening is not without risks. These can include false positives, which may lead to unnecessary anxiety and invasive follow-up tests, and false negatives, which might give a false sense of security. Overdiagnosis is another concern, where non-life-threatening cancers are treated unnecessarily, potentially causing harm.