Oncology education and cancer prevention in a high-risk region of Russia

A part of the Altai Territory of Russia has been subjected to radioactive contamination from nuclear testing. Cancer morbidity in neighboring areas has increased 15-27%. An anticancer program begun in 1993 is in the developmental stage. In conjunction with a number of social measures, a significant education program is being developed. It includes, first, education of health care professionals in the prevention and early diagnosis of cancer, and second, public cancer education. For this purpose it has been necessary to develop teaching programs for doctors and other health care professionals (undergraduate and postgraduate), schoolteachers and schoolchildren, administrators, members of the working classes, and clergy. Because the population has already been subjected to a dangerous radiation load, the program for health care professionals is designed to eliminate whenever possible the need for radiographic and isotope investigations for screening purposes and diagnosis. The public cancer education program includes data about the importance of healthy lifestyles and skills for self-examination. The authors invite the collaboration of colleagues in other countries who have had experience with regional cancer education programs.