Preventive oncology is
any measure that is taken to prevent development or progression of malignant
process. Around one third of cancer deaths are due to the five leading
behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable
intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use, and one half of
all cancer cases either arise from modifiable risk factors or can be detected
as precursor lesions before the development of disease with metastatic
Prevention of cancer can take place on several different levels: primary prevention addresses the cause of cancer so disease does not occur, secondary prevention identifies disease before the onset of symptoms and keeps it from becoming more extensive, and tertiary prevention reduces complications and progression of disease once it has become clinically apparent.