Screening of Gastric Cancer

Screening is a public health service wherein people of a defined population, who do not perceive that they are at risk for, or are already affected by, a disease or its complications, are asked a question or offered a test. This process identifies those who are more likely to be helped than harmed by further tests or treatment and reduces the risk of a disease or its complications. • As screening targets apparently healthy people, it has important ethical differences from clinical practice. Screening methods are not hundred percent safe and it is important that physicians and the lay public recognize this. A balance between safety and sensitivity has to be maintained. Screening has the potential to save lives or improve quality of life through early diagnosis of serious conditions, by reducing the risk of developing a condition or its complications. Screening cannot be taken as a guarantee of complete protection. In any screening program, there is an irreducible minimum of false positive results and false negative results. Screening should be considered risk reduction rather than risk elimination 1. Following the discussion for the screening of individual cancers the statement of the National Cancer Institute (www. nci.nih.gov) is mentioned