Cancer Prevention for Global Health: A Report from the ASPO International Cancer Prevention Interest Group

Abstract

As cancer incidence and mortality rates increase in low-and middle-income countries, the need for cancer prevention and control research directed to these countries becomes increasingly important. The American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) is a community of professionals in cancer prevention and control whose mission is to "foster the continuing development of investigators and the exchange and translation of scientific information to reduce the cancer burden."In the session presented at the ASPO 36th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC in March 2012, chaired by Drs. Frank Meyskens and Dejana Braithwaite, Dr. Paolo Boffetta discussed some of the achievements in global cancer prevention and suggested that future efforts focus on three major causes of cancer: tobacco-use, infections, and overweight/obesity. Dr. Timothy Rebbeck presented an overview of prostate cancer research in sub-Saharan Africa and highlighted how the complex nature of prostate cancer etiology and outcomes can be addressed through capacity-building research partnerships.Cancer is an emerging public health challenge in developing countries because of the aging and expansion of the population and increased prevalence of cancer risk factors such as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and reproductive factors. There are opportunities to reduce the growing cancer burden through the development of research capacity and the application of resource-appropriate interventions. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(9);

Prostate Disease Risk Factors among a New Zealand Cohort

“…However, our evaluations have shown that smoking is a lifestyle factor that shows an association with prostate cancer in the current study group. This could be related to tobacco smoke being an established carcinogen that could cause many human cancers [30,31]. …”

Utilizing exhaled carbon monoxide measurement with self‐declared smoking cessation: enhancing abstinence effectiveness in Taiwanese outpatients

“…Smoking represents a serious worldwide public health problem because of its close association with the development of chronic disease and cancer in low‐ and middle‐income countries . Despite wide knowledge on the subject, the prevalence of tobacco smoking is still high.…”

Combating Cancer Through Public Health Practice in the United States: An In-Depth Look at the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

“…In addition to an increasing U.S. cancer burden, cancer is an emerging public health challenge in developing countries because of the aging and expansion of the population and increased prevalence of cancer risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity [9]. While global public health efforts in developing countries have traditionally centered on the prevention and treatment of communicable diseases, the global burden of disease has been changing, with approximately 70% of worldwide deaths in 2015 due to non-communicable diseases [10].…”