Cancer ranks second only to heart disease as a leading cause of death in the United States, making it a tremendous burden in years of life lost, patient suffering, and economic costs. Fulfilling the Potential for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection reviews the proof that we can dramatically reduce cancer rates. The National Cancer Policy Board, part of the Institute of Medicine, outlines a national strategy to realize the promise of cancer prevention and early detection, including specific and wide-ranging recommendations. Offering a wealth of information and directly addressing major controversies, the book includes: A detailed look at how significantly cancer could be reduced through lifestyle changes, evaluating approaches used to alter eating, smoking, and exercise habits. An analysis of the intuitive notion that screening for cancer leads to improved health outcomes, including a discussion of screening methods, potential risks, and current recommendations. An examination of cancer prevention and control opportunities in primary health care delivery settings, including a review of interventions aimed at improving provider performance. Reviews of professional education and training programs, research trends and opportunities, and federal programs that support cancer prevention and early detection. This in-depth volume will be of interest to policy analysts, cancer and public health specialists, health care administrators and providers, researchers, insurers, medical journalists, and patient advocates.

This book examines the current state of evidence relating to the effectiveness of primary prevention measures. The identification of environmental and lifestyle factors as causes of cancer means that the theoretical basis for the prevention of cancer is well established. Despite this, there have been relatively few studies which examine the effectiveness of different strategies in reducing cancer-causing exposures, and even fewer where the results in terms of cancers avoided can be assessed. Most such evidence derives from observational studies, which show that changes in cancer incidence occur when diet or tobacco use are modified, even in modification is not the result of an organized preventive action. The occupational field too provides good examples of reduction in exposure to carcinogens if not always because of their carcinogenic hazard and consequent reductions in cancer incidence. This volume provides an in-depth study of four intervention studies, examining their outcome in terms of cancer risk. It also reviews the results of several other previously published studies, and provides a convenient summary of results as well as information on future prospects.