Klin Onkol 2014; 27(Suppl 2): 7-18. DOI: 10.14735/amko20142S7.
Summary
There is no doubt today of the need for cancer prevention. The growing incidence of cancer itself provides a sufficient justification for prevention programmes. A review of literature presented in this paper also documents the strong background of evidence-based cancer prevention programmes. The article also provides a critical analysis of the current status of primary cancer prevention and cancer screening in the Czech Republic in contrast with available international comparisons. Relevant international data have been obtained from the regularly repeated “Health at a Glance” studies (published by the OECD). Although the Czech Republic is one of the countries with the highest cancer burden in Europe, it has failed to develop and support a cancer prevention policy on a central level, and this also applies to smoking prevention. The Czech population needs an effective national strategy for the support of cancer prevention, as well as a strategy which would ensure equitable cancer care in terms of both quality and correct indication; a strategy which would be sustainable for at least 10 to 15 years to come.
