Public information in medicine - including oncology - is not new and is gro
wing with the development of the media. The majority is news preferably spe
ctacular for the entertainment of the reader or viewer; there are some revi
ews and also educative papers or programs in specialized journals. Often th
is information is given or sponsored by private interests which are not alw
ays clear and which do not always have public interest in mind. All medical
information may be easily accessible, especially if it is useful for the p
eople concerned. It must be independent, genuine, clear Physicians may play
an important role in health education for the general public and for speci
al patients. They have to give proved data, in an understandable form, with
caution, keeping in mind the interest of informed persons.