Secondary prevention of cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To review criteria for mass cancer screening among asymptomatic populations and barriers to secondary prevention of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. To describe challenges to implementing theoretically based interventions to increase appropriate cancer screening, follow-up, and surveillance.


METHODS
Published journal articles, text books, and epidemiologic reports.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to increase breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening participation must be approached from a systems perspective that includes patient, health care provider, and health care system variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the array of factors that impede progress in the secondary prevention of cancer is necessary to improve care. Nurses have an important role in decreasing morbidity and mortality from breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers.
Champion
Victoria L
VL
Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. vchampio@iupui.edu
Rawl
Susan M
SM
D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States