Site-Specific Prevention & Treatment

The video discusses prevention strategies, screening guidelines and treatment options for both primary and metastatic cancer of the uterine cervix. Since 90% of cervical cancers are related to HPV virus infection, an HPV cancer vaccine can prevent most types of cervical cancer if administered in younger age women.

Adenocarcinoma od the lung in non-smokers is rising in incidence globally, especially in Asia. Large population-based screening has yielded occult lung cancer in 1.5 to 2.5% of high-risk individuals (96% were stage 0 or 1. Criteria for prevention, risk assessment and screening are discussed.

The incidence and mortality of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is declining in Hong Kong. Multiple approaches are described, including identifying ingested salted fish with nitrosamines and smoking as causative agents, NPC genetic susceptibility, and use of HPV vaccine. Treatment advances are discussed using combinations of radiation therapy and chemotherapy and recent use of immunotherapy.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a known cause of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) which is endemic in Asia and parts of Africa. Anti-viral vaccines are effective in preventing NPC and detection of the EBV biomarkers in blood or nasal secretions can be an important screening tool for NPC, and for monitoring for relapse. accessed free at www.nccn.org. after registration.

The highest incidence of skin cancer, including melanoma occurs among fair-skinned population in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Government sponsored nationwide educational programs have been instituted in Australia which now sees a decrease in melanoma incidence. Tanning beds and salons are also associated with melanoma and are attributed as the primary cause of melanoma in young adults. Government policies have banned tanning beds in Australia altogether and an increasing number of states in the USA have prohibited use of tanning beds for those under 18 years of age. The government of Poland now uses this as a model policy in their country.