Scope
World Cancer Report is a multidisciplinary publication. Thus, in addressing cancer research for cancer prevention, fields of investigation include descriptive epidemiology (the distribution of disease, and specifically cancer, within particular populations), etiology (e.g. metabolism and nutrition, chemicals, infections, radiation, and genetic), cellular and molecular biology, toxicology and pathology, behavioural and social sciences, public health, biostatistics, and informatics.
World Cancer Report is intended to inform cancer researchers about activity in disciplines beyond their own fields of expertise. Communication of information about cancer to health professionals and policy-makers is also a specific goal. To these ends, World Cancer Report is a professional publication which seeks to remove barriers to communication. The use of technical jargon and associated acronyms is avoided as far as possible.
A feature of World Cancer Report, which distinguishes it from many books and related publications about cancer, is its high illustrative content. When possible, cancer distribution, its cause and prevention, and its biological character will be illustrated through diagrams and photographs.
World Cancer Report outlines the impact of cancer on the worldwide community. For example, when describing the causes of cancer, internal air pollution by wood-fired stoves is documented together with air pollution from vehicle exhausts and petrochemical plant emissions. Both tobacco smoking and obesity are common to many countries, but research provides differing insights depending on, for example, local characteristics and social situations.
World Cancer Report is not primarily concerned with the clinical care of people diagnosed with cancer, including the identification and provision of optimal treatment. For information on this matter, please refer to your national cancer society or organization.