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I’ve noticed that too. “Mammograms/ not as important as once thought.” “Colonoscopies - can be replaced with previous test/ not as important as once thought.” “Life - no need to hold on; terminate at (relatives’) will.” Sounds like Talking Points to me.

"I’ve noticed that too. “Mammograms/ not as important as once thought.” “Colonoscopies - can be replaced with previous test/ not as important as once thought.”

Anecdote from personal experience:

About 25 years ago, my brother had an episode that involved colon blockage, discovery of a "mass" and removal of about a foot of his intestine. My good friend, who is an internal medicine MD suggested that it would be a good idea for me to get a scope, since I was well past 40 at the time and now had the added risk factor of family history.

Without getting ~too~ graphic, let's just say that I had "some trouble" with having the sigmoid scope in the doctor's office. "No problem!" says he. "We'll just sedate you and use the full-length endoscope." Insurance approval was quick and easy.

The payoff? They found (and removed) a polyp the size of a golf ball which would not have been discovered on the routine test.

The polyp was pre-cancerous but with regular follow-ups and a new found taste for oatmeal, broccoli and the like, there has been no recurrence.

My point is that I do not believe myself to be particularly unique, especially after relating this experience with other men my own age. The curtailment of these kinds of "unnecessary" tests is going to result in a lot of advanced and sometimes inoperable cancers that would otherwise be nipped in the bud.

But then perhaps their ultimate goal is one worthy of Scrooge at the waning of the season - "Let them die and decrease the surplus population."