CANCER PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE - RISK IDENTIFICATION ANDPREVENTIVE INTERVENTION

A multifaceted strategy for primary prevention of cancer in the United States focuses on smoking-related cancers, cancer of the colon, breas t, and prostate, and malignant melanoma, which account for 50 percent of all cancers. A review of modifiable risks and effective interventio ns indicates two areas of interest. The common behavioral pathway of r isk for smoking-related cancers and colon cancer is oral intake-of tob acco products and a nutritionally unbalanced diet. Effective intervent ion exists to modify behaviors involving both. In contrast, there are no modifiable risks with a strong potential for preventing breast canc er and prostatic cancer. Thus, future initiatives in cancer prevention should be based on multiple research areas. Tobacco-related cancers, colon cancer, and melanoma require varied intervention approaches, ran ging from clinical counseling to excise taxes. Research on breast and prostatic cancer, on the other hand, should concentrate on identifying new, modifiable risks.