A science charity is warning that, as well as obvious advantages, there are drawbacks to screening for diseases such as breast cancer.
There has been an increase in the publicity given to cancer-screening programmes following the death of Jade Goody from cervical cancer and pop star Kylie Minogue's breast cancer battle.
But Sense About Science said that as a result people's expectations of the benefits of screening have become unrealistic and the possible harm it can cause has been forgotten.
The charity has launched a guide, Making Sense of Screening, to set out the reasons for and against screening.
Screening for some conditions can result in overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment, according to research. For example with breast and prostate cancers, tests may reveal tumours that will never cause a problem but are still treated.
The guide also highlights the fact that while screening can identify disease in some people, it cannot prevent it.
Síle Lane, of Sense About Science, said there has been a huge rise in public concern about screening, but there is hardly any information weighing up the benefits and harms. Hedley Glencross, of the Institute of Biomedical Science, said: "Screening is often a poorly understood healthcare initiative whose benefits and limitations need to be explained."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
Marie Stopes International comments:
Marie Stopes International welcomes the new guide setting out the reasons for and against screening, as it is vital that women have access to accurate information and advice to allow them to make informed choices regarding their healthcare.
In the UK, more than 1,000 women die from cervical cancer each year. Early detection and treatment of abnormal cervical cells can prevent cervical cancer developing in women, so cervical screening saves lives - it is vital that women understand the importance of cervical screening when making a decision as to whether or not to attend. We recommend that women with any concerns relating to cervical screening discuss the reasons for and against with a healthcare professional.