Why do we need cancer information?

Sophisticated integration of medical information about cancer and other chronic diseases has become increasingly important in diagnosis, treatment, care of patients and clinical research. Cancer control strategy could not be planned without such precise information. Information on cancer prevention is divided into primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The current situation in Japan at each level is reviewed, and effective systems proposed. We need an integrated system for collecting and analyzing information, and for distributing it efficiently to the public, health professionals and health planners, and this can be achieved by building a cancer information center within the National Cancer Center. Some examples of information networks in the U.S.A. set up to achieve the purposes set out above are given, and recent attempts to build a similar network in Japan are introduced. International collaborative work should advance more effectively through such information systems.