President's Cancer Panel Releases Report: Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now

The President' Cancer Panel Executive Summary states that "Despite overall decreases in incidence and mortality, cancer continues to shatter and steal the lives of Americans.

Approximately 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and about 21 percent will die from cancer. The incidence of some cancers, including some of the most common among children, is increasing for unexplained reasons."

The report discusses the key issues for reducing environmental cancer risk and sources and types of environmental contaminants, and calls for action to reduce environmental cancer risk along with recommendations for "eliminating or minimizing cancer-causing and cancer-promoting environmental exposures..." to protect all Americans, especially children. 

The following text is from the Report:

Microscopic image of a cell. From the President's Cancer Panel Report  In the conclusion, the report states that "We Need to Determine the Full Extent of Environmental Influences on Cancer and that "The Nation Needs a Comprehensive, Cohesive Policy Agenda Regarding Environmental Contaminants and Protection of Human Health.  It calls particular  attention to protecting children who are at "special risk due to their smaller body mass and rapid physical development, both of which magnify their vulnerability to known or suspected carcinogens, including radiation. Numerous environmental contaminants can cross the placental barrier; to a disturbing extent, babies are born 'pre-polluted.' Children can also be harmed by genetic or other damage sustained by the mother (and in some cases, the father). There is critical lack of knowledge and appreciation of environmental threats to children's health and a severe shortage of researchers and clinicians trained in children's environmental health."

 The report, published online on Thursday, May 6, 2010,  concludes that "Continued Epidemiologic and Other Environmental Cancer Research is Needed" and offers suggestions for action.

On Friday, May 7, 2010, The New York Times noted the concern of the American Cancer Society, as expressed in a Times interview with Dr. Michael Thun, an epidemiologist from the cancer society,  that attention to environmental concerns might "divert attention from things that are bigger causes of cancer, like smoking...."