In her latest commentary, Faye Flam makes a very good case to assist most cancers screening tips together with the necessity to enhance screening instruments (“Better cancer tests are coming. Can we afford them?” Oct. 27). Liquid biopsies on the lookout for irregular DNA within the blood are promising, however they want extra work and can seemingly considerably enhance the price of screening.
The excellent news is that in response to the World Well being Group, 30% to 50% of all cancers are linked to modifiable danger elements and doubtlessly could possibly be prevented by way of life modifications resembling consuming a wholesome balanced weight-reduction plan, remaining bodily energetic, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. The issue is that solely a tiny fraction of the inhabitants follows these suggestions. Modifying way of life behaviors is clearly an enormous problem, however extra funding for analysis, public well being assist and training to lower preventable danger elements might have an infinite payoff.
Clearly, most cancers screening is vital, however selling the advantages of a wholesome way of life would have a fair higher influence on stopping most cancers deaths at a decrease price.
— Beryl Rosenstein, Pikesville
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