Screening for Occupational Cancer

Many known and potential human carcinogens are related to workplace exposures. Primary prevention is the optimal prevention strategy for occupational cancer control through activities intended to eliminate harmful exposure(s) in the workplace. Secondary prevention provided by medical screening remains an important component of sound occupational health practice in many instances. One of the aims of secondary prevention is to reduce morbidity and mortality through detection of illness at an early stage when treatment may succeed in altering progression of disease. Medical screening data, ideally collected in a standardized manner, aggregated, and evaluated over time, can also be evaluated as a part of a surveillance program and play an important role in primary prevention.