Personal and Public health

Apply cancer knowledge to improve personal and public health

Levels of Cancer Prevention

Good personal choices can reduce a persons’ risk for developing cancer

Early detection and successful treatment will reduce cancer deaths, but prevention is more desirable

Scientists estimate that approximately ½ of all cancer deaths could be prevented

Individual level Individual behavior changes Eliminate unhealthful habits Most cancers can be prevented through

simple lifestyle changes

Health care providers Position to provide counseling and

screenings regarding cancer Need to provide timely and accurate

information for patients to make informed choice

National level Governmental agencies can impose

regulations Minimize the publics exposure to

carcinogens Implement policies to improve public health

International level Actions of developed countries can impact

the incidence of cancer worldwide Exportation of known carcinogens Moving hazardous manufacturing

processes to unregulated developing countries

Chances of Survival

Good choices can improve chances of survival

Improved detection methods exist Improved treatments

Public Policy Research

In light of the governments role in protecting public health, students will assume the roles of federal legislators and explore several resources to identify reasons to support or oppose a proposed statue

Major Concepts

Understanding the science of cancer to improve personal and public health can be beneficial. Translating our understanding of science into public policy can raise a variety of issues, such as the degree to which society should govern the health practices of individuals. Such issues often cause tension between preserving individual freedom of choice and improving public health

Acting on Information about Cancer Step One:

Research the incidence of skin cancer in the United States and in NC

Research the incidence of melanoma in the United States and NC

Helpful links United States Division of Health and Human

Services NC Department of Public Health

Brainstorming Session

Spend 10 minutes in the group indentifying reasons to support the statute and reasons to oppose the statue Hint: you need at LEAST 5 for both sides

Video Clips

View the video clips of the public’s response to this new statute What questions are being raised? Add these issues to your table

Ask Yourself the following:

What is skin cancer? Who is most at risk? What outcomes do people who develop

skin cancer expect? What outcomes does society experience as

a result of skin cancer? How can people reduce or prevent

dangerous exposure to UV radiation? How effective are these methods?

Are there other cases where society has limited behavior for public health reasons? For example, what can we learn from the Australian experience with skin cancer?

Further Research

Are there any other examples of limiting behavior for public health reasons? How effective are they?

Research NC public health laws Hint: google NC public health laws and

use the UNC school of government website

Choose 3 public health laws and document the following: Reasons for enacting this law Benefits of law Effectiveness

Revised Statute

To understand how complex policy making can be, revise and rewrite the statute in light of the data you have researched. The new statute should address the growing problem of skin cancer in a meaningful and effective way, but also should be acceptable to most students in the class.