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Review
. 2012 Mar 28;4(127):127rv4.
doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3003218.

Applying what we know to accelerate cancer prevention

Graham A Colditz  1 , Kathleen Y Wolin, Sarah Gehlert
Affiliations
Review

Applying what we know to accelerate cancer prevention

Graham A Colditz et al. Sci Transl Med. .

Abstract

More than half of the cancer occurring today is preventable by applying knowledge that we already have. Tobacco, obesity, and physical inactivity are the modifiable causes of cancer that generate the most disease. Cancer burden can be reduced by alterations in individual and population behaviors and by public health efforts as long as these changes are driven by sound scientific knowledge and social commitment to change. The obstacles to these efforts are societal and arise from the organization of institutions, including academia, and in the habits of daily life. To achieve maximal possible cancer prevention, we will need better ways to implement what we know and improved infrastructure that will better incentivize and support transdisciplinary, multilevel research and successful intervention.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The risk of death decreases with time after smoking cessation. Reduction in mortality from lung cancer (left) and from all causes (right), according to time after cessation from smoking. Mortality reduction data (and 95% confidence intervals) are expressed as a fraction of the mortality risk of continuing smokers (set at 1.0). Adapted from (4).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The beneficial effects of aspirin in reducing risk of colorectal cancer show a substantial lag. Data are expressed as a fraction of reduced risk compared to untreated individuals (set at 0). Adapted from randomized controlled trials (6) and observational studies (76).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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