Graham Colditz

"The work of the Center in identifying, communicating and reducing risk has the potential to inform everyone and save lives," said HSPH Dean Barry Bloom.

Colditz was formerly the center’s director of education. He said that HCCP will continue to examine health communication at both the individual and societal levels while he is director. Such a two-pronged approach, he asserted, is crucial for prompting people to heed messages of prevention. For example, higher cigarette taxes and smoke-free workplaces may help adults quit smoking, and people may find it easier to become more physically active if they have sidewalks or bike paths in their neighborhoods.

Consistency of messages is also important, Colditz maintained. "The public shouldn’t be seeing a different message on the front page of the paper every day," he said.

HCCP staff and researchers have created a short list of recommendations that, if followed, they say could help prevent more than half of the cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year. The messages are:

1. Maintain a healthy weight.
2. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
3. Don’t smoke.
4. Eat a healthy diet.
5. Drink less than one alcoholic drink a day.
6. Take a multivitamin with folate every day.
7. Protect yourself from the sun.
8. Protect yourself and your partner(s) from sexually transmitted diseases.
9. Get regular screening tests.

Since its inception in 1994, HCCP has promoted prevention messages through a variety of vehicles. Staff have created educational brochures in eight languages; maintained the publication of a bimonthly newsletter; produced an award-winning video on diversity and health care; written annual reports on cancer prevention; and partnered with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to create About Breast Cancer, an online compendium that offers content for both lay and professional audiences (http://www.komen.org/aboutbc). The center also supports the work of the Harvard Tobacco Control Working Group, actively participates in several statewide coalitions, and runs educational programs to train students.

Among HCCP’s most successful endeavors is the web site Your Cancer Risk (http://www.yourcancerrisk.harvard.edu/), which allows people to gauge their cancer risks and then receive suggestions for creating healthier lifestyles. Colditz co-developed the site. In addition to the 1,000 hits the site averages every day, web surfers spend about seven minutes per visit at Your Cancer Risk–a veritable eternity in this era of "point, click and move on." He said that the site is successful because it engages the user.

"It gives the user feedback and strategies," he explained. "They can see how changing their factors can potentially decrease their risk for getting cancer. I think it is unique on the web as a resource for cancer prevention."

Colditz said that he is working with a team to examine HCCP’s education strategies. For more information about HCCP, visit http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/cancer/.

–PM

Handbook of Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention

By Graham Colditz, Director of the Harvard Cancer for Cancer Prevention, and Cynthia Stein

Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2004

The new Handbook of Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention provides risk factors and assessment tools for 14 common cancers: bladder, breast, cervical, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, lung, oral, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, skin, stomach and uterine. Also included are data on incidence and mortality rates. Written by Graham Colditz and Cynthia Stein for health care providers, the book features chapters on reducing risk of cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as step-by-step suggestions on counseling patients on how to make behavioral changes.