Table 2: Advantages and disadvantages of cancer screening in the aged.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| • Increased prevalence of cancer → improved predictive value positive of screening tests • Early diagnosis → reduced risk of complications from emergency surgery • Increased cancer related mortality with age → possibility to improve overall survival |
• Reduced life expectancy → reduced survival benefits and risk of over-detection • Decreased tolerance of stress → increased risk of diagnosis and treatment-related complications • Decreased yield of cancer as a result of previous screening |