The twenty-first century and the control of cancer?

In order to look ahead at what may be accomplished in cancer control by the year 2010, one must look at where we have been and where we are today. Because of the accelerated pace of life and the information and technological explosion, it is necessary to rethink and adopt different attitudes in much the same manner that we have different attitudes now than we had in the 1950s. The past 40 years have brought a 50% cure rate in cancer, higher cancer incidence rates, a population that will now become older and older, and a zero growth rate by 2050. There is a real possibility of being able to control 85%-90% of cancers by 2010. This will result from the marriage of the biotechnology and molecular genetic fields, the death of the tobacco industry, discoveries in prevention, and improvements in therapy and early detection. The key to these advances will be the oncology nurse. The nurse will be the healthcare change agent of the twenty-first century using the expertise developed as the deliverer to the patient while the physician will become the advisor to patients, business, and the community.