Cancer: science and society and the communication of risk

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Kenneth C Calman, chief medical officera

^a Department of Health, London SW1A 2NS Sir

Accepted 13 September 1996

Abstract

Summary points

Epidemiological techniques, and the data generated from cancer registration, are powerful in identifying correlations between diseases and clinical outcomes. They do, however, have limitations in setting public policy
In understanding issues surrounding risk assessment, perception is a key aspect of understanding patient and public choice. Information sharing is critical
A proposal for clarifying the language of risk has been put forward for discussion and debate