A Comprehensive Approach to Cancer Prevention and Control:
A Vision for the Future

Introduction

Comprehensive cancer control is an integrated and coordinated approach to reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality through prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation. This comprehensive approach is based on the premise that effective cancer control planning and programming should address a continuum of services, from primary prevention and early detection through effective treatment, quality care, and end-of-life services such as pain relief.

State, territorial, and tribal cancer control programs should be comprehensive in the functions they incorporate (e.g., basic and applied research, surveillance, clinical services, health communications). They should comprehensively address all major types of cancer and the needs of all population groups, while giving special emphasis to the needs of groups disproportionately affected by cancer. Finally, they should be comprehensive in recruiting a wide base of partners and in coordinating the efforts of these partners in developing and implementing a cancer prevention and control plan that all stakeholders can embrace.

Agencies can expect to face numerous issues as they work to develop comprehensive cancer control programs. These include

• Establishing an effective infrastructure (i.e., administrative and organizational systems).

• Obtaining adequate resources (e.g., staff, funding) for cancer control.

• Accessing sufficient cancer data (e.g., incidence data, treatment data) to make informed program decisions.

• Coordinating cancer control efforts.

• Reducing racial and ethnic disparities in cancer burden and in access to appropriate treatment.

• Conducting ongoing evaluations of program effectiveness.

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