Primary Prevention of Cancer [antikvár]

Preface Primary prevention of disease-the reduction of the occurrence of disease-is an ultimate goal in medical endeavors. This is even more so for severe and lethal diseases such as cancer, for the elucidation of cancer-causing mechanisms and agents is hampered by the complexity of this disease entity and by the multitude of possible etiological factors. The following important questions guided the editors who compiled this volume on primary prevention of cancer: How can we achieve primary prevention? What is lacking in our knowledge? in our research strategies and in our implementation strategies? The main objectives of this work could be summarized as follows: • to deal with the current state of the art of research on primary prevention of cancer in Europe • to develop new strategies for cancer prevention on the basis of cancer causation studies • to gain insight in quantitative data on practical prevention carried out at present • to formulate recomrriendations concerning the implementation of complimentary strategies to existing programs of secondary prevention • to relate as much as possible these various aspects to the specific situation of Northern Belgium. We begin with an international expert, who reviews current developments in the various fields, followed by a chapter looking at the eventual practical applications in the Belgian context. Other topics covered include the epidemiology (cancer incidence and mortality in Europe and in Belgium), basic mechanisms and chemical carcinogenesis, behavior and risk assessment (including tobacco, occupation, nutrition and psycho-social factors). Monitoring has been looked at both from the environmental as well as from the biological viewpoint. Finally we conclude the volume with discussions of implementation, health education, and intervention. We hope this book will be of interest to oncologists and allied health professionals, and that it will contribute to future developments in this field, both in Belgium and elsewhere. For the Flemish Advisory Commission on Cancer Prevention -