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Background. Americans visit their primary care physicians several times a year. These visits provide physicians with many opportunities to reduce cancer risk in their patients by recommending periodic cancer screening. There is evidence of noncompliance among primary care physicians and their patients with regard to periodic cancer screening. Barriers to screening may be perceived by physicians and patients. Results. The authors found that when physicians recommended cancer screening tests, the compliance among patients was relatively high. Conclusion. Primary care physicians can take the opportunity to recommend cancer screening tests during routine patient visits, and this strategy may well increase cancer screening rates in the population. Cancer 1993; 71:839-43.