Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

We could argue those points until the cows came home. Or didn't. Wilson and Jungner developed their screening criteria in 1968 and they never intended this criteria to remain static. There is a far greater emphasis now on shared decision making between the medical professional and his/her patient. I can't imagine that a 55 year old presenting to his GP and requesting a PSA test would be refused. Interesting article from the WHO here

WHO | Revisiting Wilson and Jungner in the genomic age: a review of screening criteria over the past 40 years

(your Wiki link from your original post is broken)

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

And in the meantime I'll be getting the annual checks done....

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

:thumbsup:

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

It's like going to Kwikfit for one of them 'free' tyre checks, you end up getting a new exhaust system and brake disks aswell as tyres, go in for a cancer check who knows what their salesmen will have you walking out with!!! No thank you, I'm not as stupid as I look

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

I think the medical profession may object to you equating them with salespeople :lol:

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

But at least you would know....."I'm not as stupid as I look"...er...you look like you got cancer (purely hypothetical comment, hope not BTW!) but unless you get that check done then ignorance is not bliss, its silly. Get it done, if they find something else then you have had a free check on that as well :)

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

Fair enough, my earlier post was only a joke, even if a bit ill timed. However, in all seriousness, I really truly honestly don't want to know. Call me a selfish idiot if you like, but that's the way I am. My missus would have to drag me down the quacks by my nuts. Having said that, I had an all clear skin cancer check a while back but that was the camp medic, and by camp I mean on the mining camp ;).

Every one of my Grandparents and Uncles/Aunties have carked it through cancer, and the downhill got far quicker once they knew, like a switch got flicked in their head, having said that I'd encourage the wife n kids to get checked out.

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

Oh I can understand that, my father is the same....drives us all nuts but he won't be swayed!

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

After months of my delay tactics, SWMBO just booked the test for last week and told me I'm going to it :sneaky:

I ended up having the full McCoy of tests at the medical testing centre - they must have drained half a pint of blood from me. :ohmy: I was so relieved when they said it was all done, I just headed straight for the exit and left - NHS style. :cool: Now I'm wondering if they expected me to pay anything. They took my Medicare details first and didn't come chasing after me so maybe not.... :unsure:

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

People with cancer can be just as stupid, they continue to eat and do all the wrong things.

I believe that the money spent on cancer research would be far more effective if it was spent on researching a simple test for all forms cancer, this would enable them to catch cancer in the early stages when it is still treatable. At the moment when most cancers are detected they are inoperable. The only one with a good test at the moment is breast cancer, that is why 7 out of 8 are able to survive and return to normal life expectancy, if only they could create a test for other types of cancer many more lives could be saved.

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

There is no one biological, measurable analyte for "all cancers". Haematological cancers are pretty easy to pick up, obviously.

Re: Free Cancer Screening - Low Takeup Rate
 

Plenty of medical scientists think that they can find a simple test which they will describe in simple English. The Israelis are doing very well at the moment, they have a very reliable test which at the moment is very expensive but they are working on bringing the cost down. There are many others also working on the problem and some seem to be heading in the right direction.