Realizing the Potential of Cancer Prevention — The Role of Implementation Science

Accumulating evidence shows that there are simple methods of reducing the incidence of cancer and cancer-related mortality in people at average and high risk. Further study is needed to better understand how these lifesaving, cost-effective measures can be put to greater use. In the past two decades, we and others have estimated that more than half of cancers could have been prevented by applying knowledge that we already have. Tobacco use, inactivity, and obesity are modifiable causes of cancer, 1 – 3 and evidence now suggests that vaccination against the human papillomavirus, the use of aspirin and selective estrogen-receptor modulators, and participation in screening programs further reduce the risk of specific cancers. 4 , 5 The effect of these strategies on cancer-related outcomes in the general population is significant. A 62% reduction in lung-cancer mortality is associated with smoking cessation at age 50, 6 and environmental and . . .