Cancer screening for older people: To screen or not to screen

Abstract

In this scoping review, the evidence of the benefits of screening older people for the five most common types of cancer in Hong Kong, namely colorectal, lung, breast, liver, and prostate cancers, is discussed. Although cancer treatments can be extensive and a good prognosis is less likely if cancer is diagnosed at a late stage, screening programmes for older people in primary care remain a matter of contention. The general recommendation for the screening of older people is to adopt an individualised approach that takes account of not only age but also co-morbidity, life expectancy, harms and benefits, and patient’s preference.