CANCER INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY - THE PRIORITY OF SCREENING FREQUENCY AND POPULATION COVERAGE

In addition to the usual measures of screening-rest performance, it is important to consider testing frequency when evaluating a screening p rogram. Data on which to base recommendations for the timing of screen ing tests are urgently needed. For example, in the cases of cervical a nd colon cancer, when the target is a precursor lesion, research indic ates that less frequent screening may be appropriate. This finding may not: apply, however, to screening for breast cancer by mammography, w hich requires currently recommended intervals for the early detection of malignancies. Resources now allocated to breast cancer might more e ffectively be applied to the construction of tests that would permit l onger intervals between screenings. To achieve the National Cancer Ins titute's goal of reducing cancer mortality in the United States by the year 2000, it will be important to review the balance between populat ion coverage and individual screening for each cancer and to emphasize prevention strategies that maximize population coverage while minimiz ing expenditures.