Klin Onkol 1991; 4(4): 102-107.
Summary: The effective prevention of communicable diseases based on knowledges of their epidemiology led to the application of epidemiological principles to the study of recently dominating noninfectious, mainly chronic diseases, including cancer. Orientation of the epidemiology to the study of the features and expressions of the given disease in the population resulted in the indication of the substantial role of numerous environmental factors in cancer causation and consequently in the establishment of the measures of primary prevention. On the other hand, the detailed study of the natural history of oncological diseases including preclinical events, together with delimitation of the high risk groups of the population form the basis of the population form the basis of the secondary prevention of cancer.
