Cancer-related health policy: beyond the smoke and mirrors.
OBJECTIVE
To review the process of cancer-related health policy in the US.


METHODS
Professional journals, texts, government and organization newsletters, and Internet websites.


CONCLUSIONS
Health care and cancer-related health policy has been fraught with contention and ambiguity. Special interest groups of all sizes and causes interface with the legislative process to influence outcome at every level of policy development, implementation, and evaluation. Cancer-related health policy is formulated and actualized being influenced by competing interests, needs, and resources, which is an inherently political process.


CONCLUSIONS
A more complete understanding of this process will aid oncology nurses to participate more fully and more effectively in helping reduce the burden of cancer.
Parsons
Susan Kenyon
SK
Department of Pediatric Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Mayer
Deborah K
DK
D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology