International Journal of Cancer Management
Volume:4 Issue: 3, Summer 2011

A number of randomized trial studies and longitudinal researches emphasize that despite problems in social adjustment and cognitive damages, children with cancer demonstrate good emotional adjustment. Most of the research findings in this area are obtained using objective tools such as questionnaires. “Vitality of children”, as a drawing tool, was used as a basis to draw a comparison between children with cancer and healthy children in this study. Accordingly, 112 children with cancer (5 girls and 57 boys aged 3 to 12 years) and 123 healthy children (77 girls and 46 boys aged 3 to 12 years) participated in the study. Findings showed that the vitality of the two groups differed significantly. Perhaps, children with cancer repress negative emotions and avoid expressing their feelings. MANOVA was used to compare the vitality scores between groups and to explore the impact of different variables. Making use of such tools that indirectly examine the emotional experience of children with cancer would be beneficial. Neglecting this issue can cause children with cancer to be deprived of r receiving supportive counselling.

Although, family history of cancer is an important risk factor for upper gastrointestinal cancers development, but limited information is available on the upper gastrointestinal cancers associated with family history in Iran. The purpose of this study was to define upper gastrointestinal cancers risk associated with family history of cancer. This study was conducted as a case control study. A total number of 1,010 cases of upper gastrointestinal cancer and 1,010 healthy controls were recruited. For family history of cancer, questions were asked about any malignant tumor in first and second degree relatives. Adjusted odds ratio estimates for the association family history and upper gastrointestinal cancers risk and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were obtained. A family history of any malignant tumor in relatives was associated with 1.3 fold increased risks of upper gastrointestinal cancers. A first-degree family history of esophageal and gastric cancer was significantly associated with upper gastrointestinal cancers development, with an adjusted OR of 4.7(CI 95%: 2.6- 8.4). Our findings suggested that risk for upper gastrointestinal cancers increases among individuals with family history of cancer. Therefore, appropriate screening strategies especially in relatives of patients should be considered to prevent and control of disease.

Biomonitoring provides a useful tool to estimate the genetic risk from exposure to genotoxic agents. The aim of this study was to assess the potential cytogenetic damage associated with occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium by using micronuclei (MN) as a biomarker. This was a cross-sectional study and all participants were males. Both the exposed and control individuals were selected from Coimbatore, Southern India. Exfoliated buccal cells from 44 chrome plating workers and 40 age and sex matched control subjects were examined for MN frequency and nuclear abnormalities (NA) other than micronuclei, such as binucleates, broken eggs, karyorrhexis, karyolysis and pyknosis. Results showed statistically significant difference between chrome plating workers and control groups. MN and NA frequencies in chrome plating workers were significantly higher than those in control groups (p < 0.05) and also significantly related to smoking habit (P < 0.05). A significant difference in NA was observed in workers exposed to chromium for longer duration. In addition to this, a higher degree of NA was observed among smokers. MN and other NA reflect genetic changes, events associated with carcinogenesis. Therefore the results of this study indicate that chrome plating workers are under risk of significant cytogenetic damage. Therefore, there is a need to educate those who work with heavy metals about the potential hazard of occupational exposure and the importance of using protective measures.

Esophageal cancer is the 7th most common cancer in Iran. The northern part of the country shows the highest incidence for this malignancy. In this study we present some epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with esophageal carcinoma in this region. In a cross sectional study, 238 Esophageal cancer patients were enrolled in a prospective study of neoadjuvant chemo-radiation treatment in a 4-year period (2006- 2009). In an oncology clinic their epidemiologic characteristics and clinicopathological findings were registered in a preplanned file. Data consisted of age, sex, race, occupation, residential location, smoking, addiction history, signs and symptoms, blood biochemistry profile, imaging and endoscopic findings. The data were analyzed with the SPSS software. The mean age of the patients was (55% female) 59 years. They were mostly Fars (63%) and Turkmen (13%). Seventy two percent were residents of rural area, 20% were smokers and 22.3% were opium addict and its analogues. Only 1.3% of patients consumed alcohol. The most common presenting symptom was dysphagia (93.7%), mainly grade III dysphagia (53%). Location of tumor in esophagus was in the middle third in 53.4% and lower segment in 44.5%. 65 % of the patients had an abnormal esophagogram. On endoscopic evaluation the most common types of tumors were polypoid, vegetative and fungoid, respectively. Mean tumor length was 5.7 cm. The most common histology type was squamus cell carcinoma (99.1%) which was moderately differentiated in 51.3% of these patients. No significant relationship was found between the grade of dysphagia with the macroscopic type and the pathologic grade of the tumor in this study. Squamous cell carcinoma comprised more than 99% of all esophageal cancers in our patients and this histological type is the prominent type in the Northeast of Iran. Middle esophageal segment is the major site for this type of cancer which unfortunately most patients present with grade III. Dysphasia reflects the advanced stage of the disease.

In the last decades cancer has become one of the important causes of death in Iran. This study examined perspective of a group of Iranian health professionals, patients and patients’ family members regarding their view on disclosure of cancer information at a university hospital in Tehran, Iran. The method of study was qualitative semi-structured focused group content analysis. Two group leaders (psychologist and psychiatrist) run the focus groups. Oncologists, nurses, patients and family members participated in separate focus groups. Five group sessions were held to sum up the participants views in four major topics related to disclosure of cancer information to patients and families. Most of physicians and nurses believed that disclosure of cancer diagnosis is a mistake. Family members think that it should be delivered gradually during stages of therapy based on patient’s psychological state, but most of the patients consider truth telling as a patient right. All physicians, most of nurses and all the patients see the physician as a person responsible to break the diagnostic disclosure. All patients wanted the physicians to take the total control of decisionmaking process for their treatment. Iranian physicians and nurses hesitate to disclose cancer diagnosis compared to patients, who want to know the truth. Patients, nurses and physicians consider the physician to be the person responsible for delivering the information of cancer diagnosis. Development and implementation of a protocol based on Iranian culture is a necessity.

Cervical Cancer is one of the most important and commonly diagnosed types of cancer in females. There are different causes of cervical cancer, amongst which recurrent and persistent infection with HPV types 16 and 18 are the most renowned ones. These genotypes are the main factors in 99 % of cases in developed countries and 70 % in developing ones. Due to the importance of these viruses in cervical cancer, molecular detection of HPV and its high risk genotypes in Gorgan was designed. Pap smears and swabs specimens were taken from 308 women. Papanicola staining method and cytology were used. Nucleic acid was extracted by proteinase K phenol-chloroform standard method and then assessed by using beta-globin primer. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was then performed for papilomaviruses on all patients and positive cases from both types, including HPV 16 and 18 genotypes, were detected. Three hundred and eight women (15-75 years old) with mean age of 37.54±10.6 were recruited. Seventy six cases (20.1%) of whom were infected with HPV and 48.6% with HPV16 or 18 positive. Normal cytology was seen in 226 cases and 41 patients (18.1%) were HPV positive. Amongst those 152 cases with inflammation or abnormal cytology, 35 cases (23%) were HPV positive. No significant relation was reported between different variables and HPV infections. Due to high rate of HPV infection, as well as its high risk genotypes in different studies, more careful screening of women by Pap smear is recommended.

In spite of a significant relation between spirituality and hope, happiness and life satisfaction, the effectiveness of spiritual interventions in the mentioned mental strengths has been less dealt with. The present study is conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of spiritual group intervention on the increase of hope, life satisfaction and happiness in women surviving from breast cancer. Sixty women surviving from Breast Cancer were voluntarily assigned in to case and control groups, and were assessed before and after Islamic perspective spiritual intervention by spiritual experience, hope, happiness and life satisfaction questionnaires. Statistical analysis of data was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics through covariance. The spiritual intervention resulted in significant increase of hope, happiness and life satisfaction (P < 0.05). Spiritual intervention appears to be a potentially beneficial intervention for increasing mental strengths among those suffering from breast cancer. Therefore, it seems necessary to consider it as an important element incomprehensive treatment, plans, and in palliative and supportive care.

Paravertebral block is an appropriate method for intraoperative and postoperative pain relief in hemithorax operations. Effectiveness of this type of pain management have already been shown in breast surgery. Its effect on controlling chest wall pain is clear and remarkable. In our case despite of wide extension of lesion and penetration of ulcer to the deep part of thorax after excision, the patient had a very comfortable and painless recovery.