Social Inequalities and Cancer

M. Kogevinas, N. Pearce, M. Susser, P. Boffetta, eds. Lyon (France): International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1997. 412 pp., illus. $69. ISBN 92-832-8138-9 Social class is an area that has regained attention in the U.S. public health literature in the last decade. Awareness of how social class shapes cancer outcomes would advance cancer studies and cancer control interventions, which makes the publication of Social Inequalities and Cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) both timely and important. The 20 chapters in the book review what is known about theories of social class formation; available measures of socioeconomic status (SES); and how SES is associated with site-specific cancer incidence, survival, and mortality. Nearly half the volume focuses on explanations related to cancer screening, tobacco use, diet and nutrition, viral agents, and occupational hazards in countries around the world. In addition, the editors conducted a survey to obtain data on site-specific cancer incidence, survival, and mortality by SES from countries who do not routinely report this information. The outstanding group of international contributors spans the fields of epidemiology, cancer statistics, oncology, anthropology, and the social sciences. This seminal volume provides a detailed introduction and a substantial bibliography to guide readers who seek multilevel explanations for why social inequalities yield differential cancer occurrence and outcomes.