Too Old for Cancer Screening?

A Johns Hopkins study published in JAMA Internal Medicine focused on conducting cancer screening tests in older people, and found respondents felt they understood the concept of stopping testing when they get too old to benefit, reports physician Peter Ubel in MedPage Today . However, they were unhappy at the thought of doctors telling them that their impending mortality is the reason they should no longer receive such testing. The seniors preferred doctors delivering the same information in a less harsh manner that does not force them to think about their age or how soon they are going to die. "I encourage all physicians to try this kind of language," Ubel writes. "There's no need to remind people of the obvious fact that they are getting closer to the end of their lives. When helping patients avoid the harms of unnecessary testing, physicians should also avoid hurting their feelings."