Occupational epidemiology: detection of cancer in the workplace

There are fundamental approaches that can be used by health professionals to study the contribution of occupational exposures to cancer occurrence. It would be helpful for clinicians who see patients with cancer to be aware of the methods used to identify those types of cancer that are related to work. Such physicians may be asked by companies or unions to collaborate on the design of epidemiologic studies in work settings or to assist in interpreting results, or they may be consulted by patients from such work environments. Understanding these approaches is essential in order to anticipate, detect and prevent cancer caused by occupational exposures.