Toward Scalable Early Cancer Detection: Evaluating EHR-Based Predictive Models Against Traditional Screening Criteria

Current cancer screening guidelines are limited to a few cancer types and rely on specific criteria like age or smoking history to identify high-risk individuals. A study evaluates the effectiveness of predictive models using electronic health records (EHRs) to identify high-risk groups by detecting subtle prediagnostic signals of cancer. The research focuses on eight major cancers, including breast and lung cancer, and compares EHR-based models to traditional risk factors. Evidence suggests EHR-based models may be more effective in identifying true cancer cases.