An Integrative Preventive Medicine Approach to Primary Cancer Prevention

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with the number of new global cases estimated to reach 21.4 million in 2030. The increase in cancer incidence is due not only to aging populations and increased life expectancies but also to unhealthy lifestyle practices, environmental exposures, and a lack of effective and accessible prevention programs. Knowledge of evidenced-based cancer prevention strategies is crucial for healthcare providers and patients. This chapter describes both conventional medical and integrative medicine approaches to primary cancer prevention. Integrative medicine is an emerging field within cancer prevention and control. This chapter describes what is and is not known about the effectiveness of integrative medicine approaches to cancer prevention. An optimal preventive healthcare approach should include cancer prevention programs that integrate all evidence-based conventional and integrative medicine treatment approaches and options.