ACS under scrutiny from the New York Times - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

By Kristin Beerman | email

Edited by Jon Bush | email 

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Who gets tested for what and when, has mostly been determined by guidelines established by the American Cancer Society, but an article in the New York Times is stirring up some controversy.  The article says the ACS is quietly working on a new message for its website that says, "Screening comes with a risk of "treating many small cancers while missing cancers that are deadly," however, the ACS says that's not true.

"Our guidelines our recommendations are on our website and we are not planning to make revisions to those current recommendations at this time," said Dr. Victor Vogel, ACS, Vice President.

Many studies have shown that colonoscopies and other screening tests save lives from colon cancer, and pap test screening cuts the death rate from cervical cancer.  The Cancer Society recommends women 40 and older get mammograms every year.  PSA's for men may not be enough, so the ACS and most other medical groups recommend first and foremost that men talk to their doctors about what tests they need and when.

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