More WHO publications on cancer
A Community Health Approach to Palliative Care for HIV/AIDS and Cancer Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa
Programme on Cancer Control and Department of HIV/AIDS
Achieving balance in national opioids control policy -- Guidelines for assessment
The authors of these guidelines state that opioid analgesics, such as codeine and morphine, are "absolutely necessary" for the management of cancer pain and that for moderate to severe pain there is no substitute for opioids in the therapeutic group of morphine. But, because of their potential for abuse, opioids are classified as narcotic drugs. The International Narcotics Control Board, WHO and national governments report that opioids are not sufficiently available for medical purposes. Reasons for this include the low priority of pain care in health systems, greatly exaggerated fears of addiction, overly restrictive national drug control policies and problems in procurement, manufacture and distribution of opioids. The publication presents guidelines for governments to determine whether their national drug control policies have the legal and administrative framework to ensure medical availability of opioid analgesics, as recommended by the International Narcotics Control Board.
Annex to the guidelines: global consumption of principal narcotic drugs
Process for a Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health,
The Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, aims to improve public health through healthy eating and physical activity. The guiding principles of this process are: stronger evidence for policy; advocacy for policy change; stakeholder involvement; and a strategic framework for action.
- download Process for a Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (English) (.pdf document, 429kb)
- download Process for a Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (Russian) (.pdf document, 696kb)
- download Process for a Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (Spanish) (.pdf document, 22kb)
Breast Cancer Screening
IARC Handbook of Cancer Prevention, Volume 7 Breast cancer is the leading site of new cancer cases in women. Breast cancer detection is currently primarily based on physical examination by health care professionals, chance findings by women, breast self-examination and mammography used for diagnosis or for routine screening. Early enough detection through mass screening with mammography has been introduced in many countries in the hope that early intervention would lead to reduced mortality and less aggressive treatment. The aim of this publication is to provide an independent, authoritative review of the evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of breast cancer screening. This will be of value to governments, public health officials and others concerned with policy recommendations for cancer control.