The public has been told over and over through the years that it's necessary to get regular screenings for breast, prostate, lung and other cancers. Simple, clear messages work best in public health: Go for screening.
The trouble is, a growing body of research indicates it's not that simple. Some screening tests find cancers that would not have been lethal, or even harmful. Treatment -- surgery, radiation, chemotherapy -- can inflict their own damage.
So it's not an easy thing for doctors and patients to decide, as The Orlando Sentinel reports.