War on cancer: victory or defeat?
In 1971, President Nixon launched the "War on Cancer." Oncology professionals proclaim the War has been won. But gaps in cancer care-poor colonoscopy screening rates and technique, prostate cancer surgeries by inexperienced physicians, patients unable to obtain medications, and health care access disparities-make it difficult to support the contention of victory. Research is needed in many areas: the role of environmental exposures in development of cancer, evidence-based cancer prevention strategies, and modifiable risk factors. Policy is needed to address disparities in care. The War on Cancer has not been won: advances have been made, but there is work to be done.
Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College, 425 East 25th Street, Suite 503, New York, NY 10010, USA. jgri@hunter.cuny.edu <jgri@hunter.cuny.edu>
Joyce P
JP
Griffin-Sobel
D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States