10: Cancer Policy

Question 1

What was the goal from the Sustainable Development Goals meeting in 2015

Answer 1

By 2030, reduce by 1/4 the premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment
(Eg smoking, alcohol, investing in women & babies, education in diet)

Question 2

Describe the tobacco control policies

Answer 2

Monitor: tobacco use surveys
Protect: smoke-free legislation
Help: smoking cessation support, NRT
Warn: dangers, eg on packaging, mass media campaigns
Enforce: ban on tobacco advertising,promotion, sponsorship
Raise taxes: annual tax revenue, affordability

Question 3

What national immunization programmes do we have against infection-causing cancers?

Answer 3

HPV
Hepatitis B

Question 4

What kind of occupational exposures are covered by health and safety at work legislation?

Answer 4

• ionising radiation
• asbestos
• organic solvents (benzene)
• smoke-free workplaces
• UV radiation

Question 5

How much USD per capita is spent on healthcare in:
- The US
- Germany
- The UK
- South Africa

Answer 5

• US: $11,072
• Germany: $6,646
• UK: $4,653
• SA: $1,072

Question 6

Fill in the blanks:
In LMI countries, __1__% of deaths are accounted for by noncommunicable diseases, but only __2__% of heath funding address them.

Answer 6

1: 67%
2: 1%

Question 7

Why may cancer screening be ineffective in developing countries compared to developed countries?

Answer 7

• they have weaker healthcare infrastructure
• lack of financial and personnel resources
• even if cancers are screened, there may be limited treatment available
• cancer types that benefit from screening tend to be more prevalent in developed countries.

Question 8

What age and how often do you need to go for cervical screening?

Answer 8

• women aged 25-49: every 3 years
• women aged 50-64: every 5 years

Question 9

What are the concerns for the UK cancer control policy?

Answer 9

is the cancer burden equitable?
- are any groups disadvantaged?
Is survival as high as other countries?
- is the population receiving optimal care by international standards?
Is the National Cancer Plan effective?
- is the heath service performing adequately?
- are outcomes improving?

Question 10

What may cause inequalities in cancer:
- incidence?
- outcomes?

Answer 10

• incidence: difference in risk factor exposures
• outcomes: difference in early diagnosis, healthcare, optimal treatment

Question 11

If England were to achieve European average survival, how many lives would be saved per year?

Answer 11

5000

Question 12

What data is included in the cancer registry?

Answer 12

• All cancers diagnosed in specified geographical area
• follow up of all patients for vital status
• all cases included in incidence
• all deaths included in survival estimates