> If the cancer is basically inoperable, or if there isn't a big difference in outcome based on time of detection, then there wouldn't be an appreciable change

> If the cancer is basically inoperable, or if there isn't a big difference in outcome based on time of detection, then there wouldn't be an appreciable change in survival rates Lead time bias tells you that even if there is no effective treatment, you will appear to live longer thanks to earlier discovery of the disease. It was a hot topic with regard to prostate cancer a few years ago.