Stopping Cancer at the Source

Stopping Cancer at the Source is written in plain language and outlines how individuals can reduce their risk of developing cancer. It also discusses measures governments can implement to reduce the public's exposure to known carcinogens produced by industry. This book also states that we cannot rely on government to protect the public from cancer, and illustrates how the public can effectively lobby for changes that can improve public health, and reduce the incidence of cancer.

According to the book, the term "primary prevention" refers to preventing disease at its origins. Right now, when the medical community discusses "preventing cancer" it really means detecting cancer through screening, other diagnostic tests or by self-exam. But primary prevention means changing the behaviour that causes the disease, or eliminating the cancer-causing substance (carcinogen) responsible for the disease.

Rosenthal explains how to help prevent cancer at the source, rather than finding cancer once it already develops, or treating cancer once it has been diagnosed. Stopping Cancer at the Source will hopefully ignite public protest and outcry and help initiate the policy changes that scientists and public health advocates have been demanding since the lath 20th century.

Rosenthal used numerous additional sources to update the information in the original 1995 Report. These sources include: The Environmental Defense Fund Occupational Hazards Reports; The Eighth Biennial Report On Great Lakes Water Quality, Under the Great lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1978 to the Governments of the United States and Canada and the State and Provincial Governments of the Great Lakes Basin, released by the International Joint Commission in 1996. She also cites a unique 1998 report entitled: A State of Knowledge Report on the Effects of Human Health in the Great Lakes Basin, published by Health Canada and the Minister of Public Works and Services in cooperation with The Great Lakes Health Effects Program, Environmental Health Effects Division of Health Canada.