Barriers and incentives for primary care physicians in cancer prevention and detection.

The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly a million new cases of cancer will occur and that approximately a half million lives will be lost in 1987. These figures may double by the year 2000 primarily because of our aging population, with age being the leading risk factor for cancer. It is believed that the majority of cancer can either be prevented or treated successfully if it is diagnosed early. Primary care physicians and other health professionals delivering information on prevention and performing early diagnostic studies in various ambulatory settings represent the key to the reduced morbidity and mortality of cancer by virtue of their position in the health care delivery system within communities. Barriers and incentives for delivering these all important health measures are examined and suggestions are made for their accomplishment. It is recommended that the primary thrust should be toward the development of methodology which will allow the primary care physician to institute these measures in his regular medical practice and to coordinate them with other health maintenance and early diagnostic activities in the ambulatory setting.