[The significance of secondary prevention of cancer in China].

During past twenty years (1973-1992), the cancer mortality was increasing significantly in China. For cancer prevention and control nationwide, the primary prevention is important. Pity is that it usually takes longer time to decrease cancer mortality and liable to benefit younger generation. In practice, the secondary prevention, which put emphasis on the massive screening, early detection and early treatment, would decrease the cancer mortality as well as cancer incidences in relatively short time. Therefore, it would contribute much to the local social and economic development and improve the health insurance. In the high risk areas of cancers, such as cervical, esophageal, gastric, liver and nasopharyngeal cancers, the secondary prevention could be carried out as more effective strategy for cancer prevention in China.