title: Cancer screening: the journey from epidemiology to policy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer screening procedures have brought great benefit to the public's health. However, the science of cancer screening and the evidence arising from research in this field as it is applied to policy is complex and has been difficult to communicate, especially on the national stage. We explore how epidemiologists have contributed to this evidence base and to its translation into policy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our essay focuses on breast and lung cancer screening to identify commonalities of experience by epidemiologists across two different cancer sites and describe how epidemiologists interact with evolving scientific and policy environments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe the roles and challenges that epidemiologists encounter according to the maturity of the data, stakeholders, and the related political context. We also explore the unique position of cancer screening as influenced by the legislative landscape where, due to recent healthcare reform, cancer screening research plays directly into national policy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the complex landscape for cancer screening policy, epidemiologists can increase their impact by learning from past experiences, being well prepared and communicating effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Deppen
authors.forename: Melinda C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aldrich
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartge
authors.forename: Christine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Graham A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Colditz
authors.forename: Diana B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Petitti
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hiatt
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000639:trends*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D024382:Professional Role; D011634:Public Health; D011639:Public Opinion; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology