Acknowledgements: This course is supported by the National Cancer Institute through the U54 CA096297/CA096300: UPR/MDACC Partnership for Excellence in Cancer Research Education Core.

Course Description

Through the University of Puerto Rico/University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Partnership for Excellence's Education Core, this course offers lectures presented by faculty from the University of Puerto Rico, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Ponce School of Medicine.  This short course introduces students to basic concepts in the area of cancer prevention and control. It examines the main strategies for cancer prevention and control, across the cancer control continuum (prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survival/quality of life/mortality). The main risk factors associated with cancer and effective prevention strategies that seek to prevent the disease are discussed, as well as disparities in cancer burden and prevention and control intervention strategies aimed to reduce these disparities. Strategies focus on primary prevention among cancer-free individuals, as well as secondary and tertiary prevention efforts for cancer survivors. This introductory level course is directed to upper level undergraduate, pre-medical students, medical students, and pre-candidacy graduate students.

Objectives

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the basic concepts used in the area of cancer prevention and control.
• Examine and compare disparities and the burden of cancer in the populations of Puerto Rico, the United States of America, and other countries.
• Describe the main biological, environmental, occupational, social, and lifestyle risk factors associated with the development of cancer in humans.
• Understand the implications of scientific findings and other sources of information for the development of cancer prevention and control strategies.
• Propose cancer prevention and control strategies based on the health needs of the population.