Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment in Cancer

Journal of American Medical Association ^ | Jluy 29, 2013 | Laura J. Esserman, MD, MBA1; Ian M. Thompson, Jr, MD2; Brian Reid, MD, PhD3

[Innovative]

Optimal screening frequency depends on the cancer's growth rate. If a cancer is fast growing, screening is rarely effective. If a cancer is slow growing but progressive, with a long latency and a precancerous lesion (eg, colonic polyps or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia), screening is ideal and less frequent screening (eg, 10 years for colonoscopy) may be effective. In the case of an indolent tumor, detection is potentially harmful because it can result in overtreatment. These observations provide an opportunity to refocus screening on reducing disease morbidity and mortality and lower the burden of cancer screening and treatments.

In March 2012, the National Cancer Institute convened a meeting to evaluate the problem of "overdiagnosis," which occurs when tumors are detected that, if left unattended, would not become clinically apparent or cause death. Overdiagnosis, if not recognized, generally leads to overtreatment

[goodwithagun]

We kind of operate on the theory that a little dirt won’t hurt us. I don’t carry hand sanitizers in my purse or diaper bag and we’ve switched to a triclosan-free hand and dish soap in our home. The kids and I pick stuff out of the garden to munch on without washing it first. It’s not the worst thing I could do as a mom!

[goodwithagun]

Neither are mine. My kids don’t do well with added msg, so homemade snacks are pretty much it for us. That is a good thing I think. Do you have a Vitamix? It’s a luxury item, I know, but it really helps with the whole foods eating concept. Mine paid for itself in baby food alone.

[dhs12345]

:) Adds meaning to “if you don’t like it you can go out in the garden and eat worms.”

[Black Agnes]

My kids get stuff like this in their Christmas stockings and Easter baskets:

http://www.iherb.com/SurfSweets-Watermelon-Rings-2-75-oz-78-g/50011

They also like the Yummy Earth stuff. It comes in 5lb bags. I order one of those per year and it lasts with my tribe for the whole year. I give them one of the drops, each, during Church. Also in checkout aisle of store.

So it’s not like they don’t get junk. They do, but a little here and there. They just don’t get GMO stuff or any artificial stuff. They’re average to slim for their height so I’m not worried for now.

I’ve looked at the vitamix. It’s on my wish list. I’ve got a decent kitchen aid blender and make do with that. I could really get into the juicing though. There’s a channel on youtube, growyourowngreens, or something that’s got a lot of good videos. I could stand to lose 20 or 30lbs. And I already garden extensively. Maybe Santa will bring me one :)