Snelders S A M, Pieters T, Meijman F J
VU Medisch Centrum, afd. Metamedica, Kamer D326, Postbus 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam.
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2007 Mar 24;151(12):712-5.
Since at least the 18th century doctors have drawn connections between cancer and heredity in the hope of making progress in diagnosis, treatment and opportunities for prevention. From 1910 to 1980, the relationship between cancer and heredity was hardly discussed publicly in the Netherlands. This facilitated the development of models of public prevention and individual predisposition for certain cancers, such as retinoblastoma, after the Second World War. Historical experience shows that the perception of the relationship between cancer and heredity is influenced by more than just rational factors. The fear of creating 'cancerphobia' has hindered this perception in the past; fatalism ('it makes no difference anyway') and stigmatisation (familial and societal pressure) may negatively influence participation in early detection and prevention. This remains a problematic issue today.
至少从18世纪起，医生们就一直在探寻癌症与遗传之间的联系，以期在癌症诊断、治疗及预防方面取得进展。1910年至1980年期间，荷兰几乎没有公开讨论过癌症与遗传之间的关系。这为二战后某些癌症（如视网膜母细胞瘤）的公共预防和个体易感性模型的发展提供了便利。历史经验表明，对癌症与遗传关系的认知不仅受到理性因素的影响。过去，对制造“恐癌症”的担忧阻碍了这种认知；宿命论（“反正都没区别”）和污名化（家庭及社会压力）可能会对早期检测和预防的参与度产生负面影响。这在今天仍是一个有问题的议题。
