Cancer Risk Communication and Comprehension

This chapter presents a summary of key issues that must be considered in risk communication. There has been a long-standing effort to improve patient understanding of the risks and benefits of medical procedures and treatments. The challenge of risk communication related to cancer and cancer prevention has become even more complex over the past decade, as more data is available to provide detailed risk estimates to different population subgroups. Further, it is increasingly possible to tailor treatment strategies to individual characteristics.