Cancer prevention is an essential component of the fight against cancer. Unfortunately, many prevention measures that are both cost-effective and inexpensive have yet to be widely implemented in many countries. Activities that are immediately feasible and likely to have the greatest impact for the investment should be selected' for implementation first. This is at the heart of a stepwise approach. Regardless of resource level, every country can take steps to curb the cancer epidemic by undertaking primary prevention actions and thereby avoid unnecessary suffering and premature death.