Following the guidelines for cancer prevention and screening means that you are willing to take responsibility for your own health. In so doing, you will be playing a part in achieving the national goals to reduce cancer incidence and death. But there are also other ways that you can become involved in the fight against cancer.
Community-Based Cancer Prevention and Control Initiatives Several national health and voluntary organizations such as the National Cancer Institute , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society—have launched large cancer prevention and control research initiatives. These community-based research studies and educational programs are designed to advance our understanding of ways to prevent, detect and control cancer.
They offer the public a tangible opportunity to participate in cancer prevention research. Predominant cancer sites such as the breast, lung, prostate and colon are targeted by these initiatives.
• With the passing of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Act, an anticipated 30 states will receive funds
to coordinate comprehensive programs for the early detection of breast and cervical cancer in underserved
women.
• The National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services recently initiated several
important cancer prevention and screening studies. Nationwide, 150,000 women age 50 to 79 will join the
Women's Health Initiative to evaluate the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy, a low-fat diet
and calcium/vitamin D supplementation on cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.
