Basic and Clinical Cancer Research
Volume:5 Issue: 3, Summer 2013

We studied the patterns of premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer incidence and its established risk factors in Iran in 2010. In addition, we estimated the 5-year prevalence of breast cancer in the country. We performed an internet and library literature review. We used national cancer registry data, demographic health surveys, national censuses and World Bank data in this study. We used incidence rate and weighted survival rate of breast cancer and estimated five-year prevalence of breast cancer in Iran. Incidence rate of postmenopausal breast cancer varied significantly within country. The highest ASR was in Tehran province and reached 164.1 Per 100000 and the lowest ASR (13.9/100000) belonged to Sistan&Baluchistan. We found significant inverse correlation between postmenopausal breast cancer incidence and family size(r=-0.579, p=0.001), illiteracy ratio (r=-0.703, p<0.0001), and direct correlation for urbanization ratio (r=0.554, p=0.002) and life expectancy(r=0.659, p<0.0001). However one to six month breastfeeding was not significantly correlated with postmenopausal breast cancer incidence. Adjusting for the 15% underestimation in the pathology based cancer registry, the estimated number of new breast cancer was about 10,000 and the five-year prevalence was about 40, 0000. Postmenopausal breast cancer is increasing in Iran. We suggest planning for the primary prevention and cost-effective early detection program for breast cancer in Iran, particularly for postmenopausal breast cancer which is going to be the main burden in the near future.

The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of use of combined cognitive interventions to prepare the child and parent, and distraction of child’s attention on reported intensity of pain, distress caused by lumbar puncture, and situation-related quality of life of children with cancer. This was a clinical trial using pretest-posttest method and a control group. Study population consisted of all children with cancer, attending Mahak and Mofid hospitals in Tehran. Forty-one child-parent pairs were selected and randomly divided into case and control groups. Children were visited twice. In the first visit, both groups received normal care. In the second, case group received cognitive interventions, and control group received normal care. Data were collected through demographic details questionnaire, Oucher, CHEOPS, PedsQL Present Functioning Visual Analogue Scales in pediatric medicine. Study results showed that cognitive interventions to prepare the child and parent, and distraction of child’s attention were able to reduce intensity of pain and distress level, and improve child’s situation-related quality of life. There was a positive and significant correlation between reported intensity of pain and distress level, a negative and significant correlation between situation-related quality of life and intensity of pain, and a negative and significant correlation between situation-related quality of life and distress. Cognitive interventions were found to be effective in reducing reported intensity of pain and distress, and improving situation-related quality of life in children with cancer, undergoing lumbar puncture. Cognitive interventions are recommended in this painful procedure, for management of child’s pain and distress.

Colorectal cancer is the third cause of cancer death in western countries. Age, inadequate diet, obesity, inactivity and genetic changes are some of the risk factors of colorectal cancer. Correlation of genetic diversity in homologous recombination repair system with cancer was evaluated in many recent studies. This study was done to investigate the correlation of T241M polymorphism in XRCC3 gene and colorectal cancers. In this cross-sectional study, after collecting blood samples and extracting genomic DNA, genotype distribution of the polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. A significant correlation was observed between T241M polymorphism and colorectal cancer. Age and family history were also found to be correlated with this cancer. Although no statistically significant relationship has been found between smoking and colon cancer, our findings showed a correlation between smoking and rectum cancer. Furthermore, we observed that the most occurrence of metastatic activity was in the rectum. According to our study, T241M polymorphism in XRCC3 gene from homologous recombination (repair system??) could be a suitable factor for early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, while its co-operation with smoking is also regarded as a risk factor for rectum cancer.

The present study aimed to determine awareness of Tehran residents of seven warning signs of cancer, and application of protective measures against cancer. 2500 residents of Tehran were selected through systematic cluster random sampling. Data collection tool consisted of a questionnaire, comprising 3 sections of demographic details, awareness of warning signs of cancer, and application of protective measures against cancer. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were determined through content validity and Cronbach’s alpha. Data were collected once and in-person, and were analyzed with SPSS-11.5 software using Chi-square test. As for favorability of their status, 80%-100% was considered favorable, 60%-79.9% relatively favorable, and 0-59.9% unfavorable.Study results revealed the majority of Tehran residents (66.6%) had an unfavorable status in terms of awareness of warning signs of cancer, and only 9% were in a favorable status. Most participating Tehran residents (78.7%) were in an unfavorable status in terms of applying protective measures against cancer, and only 7.6% had favorable status. A significant relationship was observed between awareness of warning signs and protective measures against cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to increase people’s awareness of cancer prevention.