Publisher's Synopsis
This book examines the quandaries and dilemmas arsiing from a recent and widely accepted report suggesting that about 80% of the common cancers in the USA and Europe could be avoided by modifying people's life styles. The dilemma arises when applying a conclusion based upon statistical evidence to the individual citizen. While helath education can increase a person's awareness of cancer risk, by itself it rarely motivates him to change his behaviour.;Various chapters examine the social, personal, political and scientific ethical quandaries involved in trying to reduce cancer deaths due to smoking, overuse of alcohol, dietrary contaminants, occupational carcinogens, environmental pollution and excess dietary fat. Other chapters consider the possible role of social class and personality characteristics in cancer promotion, and question the role of mass screening in leading to higher cure rates of cancer in women.;Governments face a major dilemma in comparing the cost-effectiveness of the various methods advocated in the book for reducing the death rate from cancer, and to decide whether the cost per life saved is worthwhile.
