Part 9/11:
Researchers and funders may prioritize treatments that improve statistics rather than actual patient outcomes.
Patients might choose aggressive interventions with limited actual benefit, risking harm for the illusion of longer survival.
The Case of PSA Screening
The widespread use of PSA testing for prostate cancer exemplifies this double-edged sword. While it led to an apparent surge in survival rates—going from 69% to 99%—the actual reduction in mortality was minor relative to the increase in diagnoses. Most men with slow-growing tumors were "treated" for disease that would never have shortened their lives.