Screening

Doctors have been discussing how often to check patients for cancer markers. For example, men have been undergoing tests for early signs of prostate cancer for many years. However, the widespread use of screening tests in the 1990s resulted in overtreating and causing harmful side effects for many men. Some have experienced urinary or sexual problems after undergoing surgery and radiation to eliminate cancer that may not have posed a serious threat.[2023 Abbott] The current trend appears to be shifting towards more frequent testing with improved data analysis. Nevertheless, there exists a delicate balance between providing the most extensive patient care and offering evidence-based optimal treatment, which discourages numerous tests for individuals without symptoms [2024 smarter medicine].

N-1 Trials

Studies that focus on a single person – known as N-of-1 trials – will be a crucial part of the way forward. Formalizing and scaling up the N-of-1 approach means solving various practical problems. These include exploiting the diversity of health-monitoring devices, developing new ones and identifying appropriate disease biomarkers, such as tumour DNA circulating in the bloodstream. It will also require a cultural shift on many levels: in regulatory agencies, in pharmaceutical companies and, in the clinic. But of course, a doctor will always treat a patient as an N-1 individual.