Over 60's Health Scans
Discussion
Chaps
My parents are both over 60. I understand that if you can diagnose problems very early at this age its key.
I was thinking of sending them to do private comprehensive scans annually.
Does anyone have any views pros/cons on this and or where best to get it done? We are in London.
Many thanks
My parents are both over 60. I understand that if you can diagnose problems very early at this age its key.
I was thinking of sending them to do private comprehensive scans annually.
Does anyone have any views pros/cons on this and or where best to get it done? We are in London.
Many thanks
One of two things will happen.
-An abnormality will be detected that has absolutely no clinical relevance but will cause concern and anguish (sometimes referred to as an 'incidentaloma').
-Exposure to repeated high doses of ionising radiation will result in the development of a cancer. Places like Lifescan use CT scanners which emit doses of radiation that shouldn't be underestimated. Once in a while isn't so much of a problem but routine scanning is not a good idea in anyone's book.
Tell them to enjoy a healthy diet and to take regular exercise, to stop smoking (if they do) and to only drink in moderation. That's the best thing you can do for them.
-An abnormality will be detected that has absolutely no clinical relevance but will cause concern and anguish (sometimes referred to as an 'incidentaloma').
-Exposure to repeated high doses of ionising radiation will result in the development of a cancer. Places like Lifescan use CT scanners which emit doses of radiation that shouldn't be underestimated. Once in a while isn't so much of a problem but routine scanning is not a good idea in anyone's book.
Tell them to enjoy a healthy diet and to take regular exercise, to stop smoking (if they do) and to only drink in moderation. That's the best thing you can do for them.
"Health scans" = "Income generator" = "Unnecessary worry"
The pricinciple you are looking for is screening for disease, and it's a very tightly controlled exercise.
Let your GP be the best guide, put your wallet away (good intentioned that it is)
The pricinciple you are looking for is screening for disease, and it's a very tightly controlled exercise.
wikipedia said:
The intention of screening is to identify disease in a community early, thus enabling earlier intervention and management in the hope to reduce mortality and suffering from a disease. Although screening may lead to an earlier diagnosis, not all screening tests have been shown to benefit the person being screened; overdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and creating a false sense of security are some potential adverse effects of screening. For these reasons, a test used in a screening program, especially for a disease with low incidence, must have good specificity in addition to acceptable sensitivity.
Quite eloquently put; basically the test (eg CT,MRI,mammography,PSA) has to be razor accurate, safe, easily carried out, the disease understood, an early treatment available, money available, and many other (justified) hoops.Let your GP be the best guide, put your wallet away (good intentioned that it is)
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