[Role of human behavior and the environment in the prevention of cancer].
Cancer is one of the main health issues for the French population. The importance of this burden can be measured through mortality and morbidity rates. Because of the still limited success of therapy, prevention should be the main concern. In theory prevention could avoid 50-80% of new cases. Efficiency of prevention depends, on the one hand, on the identification of risk factors and on estimation of their attributable rate and, on the other hand, on the possibility of controlling the exposure to these factors. Because the greatest risk is due to behavioural factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, etc.), suppression of exposure to these factors depends mainly on individual will. But these individual decisions can be supported by an active preventive policy based on health education and on research in the fields of communication and behavioural determinants.
Sancho-Garnier
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CRLC Val-d'Aurelle, parc Euromédecine, Montpellier, France. HSGarnier@valdorel.fnclcc.fr
D001519:Behavior; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors