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Walker DAH, Terry MB. Is it 'cancer prevention' or 'risk reduction'? #Wordsmatter. Cancer Causes Control. 2021;32(9):919-922doi: 10.1007/s10552-021-01470-w.
Walker, D. A. H., & Terry, M. B. (2021). Is it 'cancer prevention' or 'risk reduction'? #Wordsmatter. Cancer causes & control : CCC, 32(9), 919-922. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-021-01470-w
Walker, Desiree A H, and Terry, Mary Beth. "Is it 'cancer prevention' or 'risk reduction'? #Wordsmatter." Cancer causes & control : CCC vol. 32,9 (2021): 919-922. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-021-01470-w
Walker DAH, Terry MB. Is it 'cancer prevention' or 'risk reduction'? #Wordsmatter. Cancer Causes Control. 2021 Sep;32(9):919-922. doi: 10.1007/s10552-021-01470-w. Epub 2021 Jul 21. PMID: 34287740; PMCID: PMC8310470.
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Cancer Causes Control. 2021 Sep;32(9):919-922. doi: 10.1007/s10552-021-01470-w. Epub 2021 Jul 21.

Is it 'cancer prevention' or 'risk reduction'? #Wordsmatter.

Cancer causes & control : CCC

Desiree A H Walker, Mary Beth Terry

Affiliations

  1. Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center Community Advisory Board, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
  2. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA. [email protected].
  3. The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY, 10032, USA. [email protected].

PMID: 34287740 PMCID: PMC8310470 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-021-01470-w

Abstract

In this commentary, we examine whether we should reconsider the widespread use of the words 'cancer prevention' and replace them with the words 'cancer risk reduction'. Our recommendation is because 'risk reduction' more accurately reflects what we know from cancer research, but more importantly recognizes the confusion and potential harm to patients from the inaccurate use of the words 'cancer prevention'.

© 2021. The Author(s).

Keywords: Cancer Prevention; Cancer risk reduction; Guidelines; Modifiable risk

References

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