The lost art of preventive oncology.

As the second most common cause of mortality worldwide, cancer is now prevalent in our society. The overall number of cases continue to rise each year and given the advancements in treatment strategies we now have a large population of cancer survivors. In the busy oncology clinic, patients often bring up the question of what caused their cancer. Oftentimes the answer is not very clear. This article is highlighting the role of oncology clinic in improving the awareness of overall health in patients and their families. The oncologist can play a crucial role in reducing the risk of malignancies in the family members of their patients. There is a need to have a quick discussion on the role of diet, exercise, vaccination against HPV, avoidance of smoking, alcohol, and other toxins such as pesticides in the oncology clinic.