Part 8/11:

The phenomenon has led to the frequent overdiagnosis of conditions like ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast lesion that almost never progresses to invasive cancer. Yet, thousands of women undergo mastectomies, radiation, and other invasive procedures for a disease that would have posed no threat. The 5-year survival rate for DCIS is near 100%, but many women undergo aggressive treatments that cause physical, psychological, and emotional trauma—almost all based on the misleading perception of effective intervention.

Incentives and The Consequences

This statistical deception influences hospitals, researchers, and policymakers:

• Hospitals may aggressively pursue early detection campaigns to boost their survival rates and rankings.