Surveillance of Screening-Detected Cancers (Colon and Rectum, Breast, and Cervix) — United States, 2004–2006
"Population-based screening for cancer requires screening persons who might be at risk for but do not display symptoms of a particular cancer (1). Effective cancer screening reduces, through early detection and treatment, disease-associated morbidity and mortality (2–4). Screening also helps prevent cancer by detecting precancerous lesions (e.g., colorectal adenomatous polyps and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) that can be removed. Based on systematic reviews of the evidence of the benefits and harms and assessments of the net benefit of screening, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends population-based screening for colon and rectum cancer, female breast cancer, and uterine cervix cancer (5). Sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, USPSTF is an independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care that systematically reviews the scientific evidence of the effectiveness of clinical preventive services, including screening for cancer, and develops recommendations for these services. USPSTF grades the strength of evidence as follows: “A” (strongly recommends), “B” (recommends), “C” (offers no recommendation for or against), “D” (recommends against), or “I” (finds insufficient evidence to recommend for or against)..."