9. Epidemiology of Cancer

Question 1

What epidemiological measure is best for studying causality?

Answer 1

Incidence

Question 2

Recall how the example of melanoma can be used to show that incidence is a good measure of causality

Answer 2

200 x higher in Australia than China… where they are both pale-skinned and live with high UVB exposure

Question 3

Recall how the example of lung cancer can be used to show that incidence is a good measure of causality

Answer 3

Much higher in Eastern Europe than Western Africa due to incidence of tobacco-smoking

Question 4

What is used to study the genetic component of a disease?

Answer 4

Migrant studies

Question 5

Give an example of a migrant study that examined the genetic component of a cancer

Answer 5

Japanese immigrants in Hawaii
Japan has very high incidence of stomach cancer, very low in Hawaii
Within 2 generations, Japanese had same risk as Hawaiians - actually shows the weakness of the genetic component (that cause is more environmental)

Question 6

Recall 3 factors that have contributed to the ever-increasing burden of cancer worldwide

Answer 6

1. Ageing populations
2. Westernisation of lifestyles
3. Increasing population size

Question 7

Which cancer is the most prevalent worldwide for women?

Answer 7

Breast

Question 8

Which cancer is the most prevalent worldwide for men?

Answer 8

Lung (Russia, Asia)

Prostate (Europe, America)