8 22 The total healthcare costs for prostate cancer treatment and other relevant costs in healthcare and in society should also be taken into consideration before the introduction of a widespread screening programme.
In recent years breast cancer survival rates have been steadily increasing, partly due to earlier diagnoses as a result of increased awareness and widespread mammography screening programmes.
The widespread mammography screening programmes for the early detection of breast cancer gave rise to a tremendous number of biopsies taken in order to determine the nature of sono- or mammographically diagnosed breast abnormalities.
Widespread implementation of screening programmes could significantly reduce the burden of cancer.
Despite the widespread use of screening programmes, 60 70% of HCCs are detected when curative treatments (surgery or ablation) are precluded by the cancer burden or contraindications (Bruix and Llovet, 2002; Takayasu et al, 2012).
The significance of this problem is increasing with the widespread introduction of screening programmes and the consequent increase in proportion of patients presenting with early-stage disease (Benson, 2007).
After the introduction of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and the first reports on its efficacy, there is great pressure for the screening of prostate cancer, although widespread implementation of screening programmes for prostate cancer cannot be recommended, according to available evidence.
This is because of ethical issues with delayed chlamydia testing and the widespread introduction of chlamydia screening programmes.
Earlier detection of malignancies and widespread availability of cancer screening programmes have increased the possibility of successful treatment and recovery, although often at the cost of functional ability and physical, emotional/mental, or social well-being.
