Cancer-screening for older patients

Cancer-screening programmes are public health action for a target population. It guarantees an equal access to screening throughout the country with a high level of quality for every person of the target population. Given the heterogeneity of older subjects and the variability of the expected benefits of cancer-screening programmes, this collective public health action may not have a collective benefit for the population. However, for older person with a life expectancy of five years or more, it would be possible to propose an individualized cancer-screening decision. This cancer-screening approach must respect the ethical principles of avoiding harm and supporting autonomy. In addition, it is important to consider the goals and values of patients to take an individualized decision. Patients with the same profile may not take the same decision of individualized cancer screening.