Occupational Cancer: Public Health Interventions to Minimize its Burden and Impact on the Society

Cancer has emerged as a major public health concern owing to its magnitude, worldwide distribution, impact on the quality of life, financial burden on the patient / family / society / health care delivery system, and associated mortality. Findings of a study have shown that approximately 19% of all types of cancers have been attributed to the environmental factor. Almost 900 potential carcinogens have been identified and evaluated for their carcinogenic potential in the workplace, a major fraction of which is preventable. A wide range of potential factors have been identified that have contributed to the rising trends of occupational cancer. In order to reduce the magnitude of occupational cancer, there is an immense need to formulate a holistic strategy which should respond to the needs of all stakeholders. To conclude, a significant rise has been observed in the incidence of occupational cancer and there is an immense need to plan and implement scientific interventions to minimize thousands of unnecessary deaths and suffering from occupational cancer.