Helping to Make Prevention the Cure for Cancer

More than three decades ago, President Nixon declared a war on cancer. Since that time, millions of dollars have been devoted to research directed primarily at finding cures or improving diagnosis and treatment for cancer. This research has led to earlier diagnoses and better treatments for some cancers, yet the numbers of people developing many types of cancer continue to grow, and a cure has yet to be found.

The National Cancer Institute tells us that approximately two-thirds of all cancers are caused by things in the environment or the world around us - yet relatively little research has been conducted on the relationship between the environment and cancer.

The purpose of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute is to promote further research on the environmental causes of cancer and educate the public about what we already have learned. Specific goals of the Center for Environmental Oncology include:

• promoting and performing research that identifies causes of cancer in the environment;
• teaching health professionals how to look for environmental risk factors in their patients;
• informing patients, their families and communities about cancer risks and ways to reduce their chance of recurrence;
• providing healthy options regarding exercise, nutrition and avoidable chemical exposures;
• evaluating public policies to determine how they affect the environment and health; and
• testing ways of reducing cancer risk through "greening" buildings, including hospitals.

The Center for Environmental Oncology gratefully acknowledges the support of the following organizations:

• Highmark Foundation
• The Heinz Endowments
• DSF Charitable Foundation
• The Pittsburgh Foundation
• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health

To inquire about Center for Environmental Oncology activities, please Email Us or call 412-623-3375.