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Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides support for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
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At our National Cancer Information Center trained Cancer Information Specialists can answer questions 24 hours a day, every day of the year to empower you with accurate, up-to-date information to help you make educated health decisions. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with valuable services and resources.
Or ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
During the 18th century, 3 important observations launched the field of cancer epidemiology (epidemiology is the study of causes, distribution, and control of diseases):
Epidemiologists continue to search for factors that cause cancer (like tobacco use, obesity, ultraviolet radiation), as well as those things that can help protect against cancer (such as physical activity and a healthy diet). This research provides evidence to guide public health recommendations and regulations.
As molecular biologists learn more about how factors cause or prevent cancer, this information is used to study molecular epidemiology, which is the study of interactions between genes and external factors.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Contran R, Kumar V, Robbins S. Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease, 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1989.
Devita VT Jr, Rosenberg SA. Two Hundred Years of Cancer Research. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(23):2207-2214.
Diamandopoulus GT. Cancer: An historical perspective. Anticancer Res. 1996;16:1595-1602.
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Hajdu SI, Darvishian F. A Note From History: Landmarks in History of Cancer, Part 5. Cancer. 2013;119(8):1450-1466.
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Institut Jules Bordet. The History of Cancer. Accessed at www.bordet.be/en/presentation/history/cancer_e/cancer1.htm on June 8, 2012.
Kardinal C, Yarbro J. A conceptual history of cancer. Semin Oncol. 1979;6:396-408.
Last Revised: June 12, 2014
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