Asian Pac J Cancer P
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Asian Pac J Cancer P · Jan 2011
Comparative StudyComparison of Aalen's additive and Cox proportional hazards models for breast cancer survival: analysis of population- based data from British Columbia, Canada.
Regression models for survival data have traditionally been based on the Cox regression model. However, its validity relies heavily on assumption of proportional hazards. Another restriction of the Cox model is insufficiency in dealing with time-varying covariate effects, since the regression coefficients are assumed constant. These weaknesses have generated interest in alternative approaches and with Aalen's additive model, the effect of the covariates acts on an absolute rather than a relative scale. We here fit the Cox and Aalen's additive models to breast cancer data for comparison through practical application. ⋯ Based on our findings, if the proportional hazard assumption is not satisfied, the Aalen's additive model is an appropriate alternative for the Cox model. If the proportional hazard assumption is satisfied, both models are appropriate. Generally, the two models give different pieces of information.
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Asian Pac J Cancer P · Jan 2011
Comparative StudyThe impact of mammographic breast cancer screening in Singapore: a comparison between screen-detected and symptomatic women.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death amongst Singapore women. There are few studies evaluating the impact of mammographic screening among Asian women. This study aimed to examine differences in disease stage at presentation and outcome between breast cancer patients who were detected by screening (screen-detected) and those who presented symptomatically (symptomatic) from the experience of a regional hospital in Singapore. We also sought to identify the demographic profile of patients who were less likely to be screen detected. ⋯ Mammographic screening appeared to enable the detection of oncologically more favorable lesions and conferred better overall cancer- specific survival in Singapore women. There is possibly room for more targeted education efforts to reach out to Malay women and those without a family history of breast cancer to enable earlier disease detection among these individuals through regular breast cancer screening.
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Asian Pac J Cancer P · Jan 2011
Exploration of cancer pain treatment by morphine infusion through an embedded device.
Cancer pain treatment with morphine presents particular problems in patients with renal failure needing haemodialysis. We here explore the various possibilities of intrathecal opioid administration for intractable chronic and acute cancer pain. ⋯ For over 3 decades, there have been numerous reports on non- nociceptive side effects associated with ever increasing long-term intrathecal morphine usage. Our review of the literature and our own experience suggests that a subarachnoid device allows good pain control effect after patient controlled intravenous infusion failure at the time of haemodialysis.
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Asian Pac J Cancer P · Jan 2011
Cervical cancer screening in Korea: report on the National Cancer Screening Programme in 2008.
The National Cancer Screening Programme (NCSP) began in 1999. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the results of the NCSP for cervical cancer in 2008 and to present essential evidence associated with the cervical cancer screening programme in Korea. Screening results were obtained from the National Cancer Screening Information System. ⋯ The target population of the cervical cancer screening programme in 2008 was 4,701,167 Korean women aged 30 and over, 1,208,581 of whom underwent Papanicolaou (Pap) smear tests (25.7% participation rate). The recall rate was 0.41% (95% CI, 0.40 to 0.42). Although efforts to facilitate participation and to reduce disparities in cervical cancer screening among Korean women are needed, the results do provide support for evidence-based strategies for control of cervical cancer in Korea.
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Asian Pac J Cancer P · Jan 2011
Awareness of cervix cancer risk factors in educated youth: a cross-sectional, questionnaire based survey in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The main aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of cervix cancer risk factors among Educated Youth with respect to socio demographic factors. ⋯ These results indicate that there is an urgent need for a reinvigorated and tailored approach to cervix cancer prevention among the educated youth in India, Nepal and Srilanka. Prevention efforts should be focused on improving social awareness, enforcing education strategies to reduce risk factors and improving the strength and quality of counselling.