{"title":"An international perspective on Canada's role in cancer staging.","authors":"L H Sobin","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Canadians have been involved in the issues of cancer staging since the inception of the international effort led by the UICC. The seminal roles of Sellers and Bush in furthering the development of the concept of staging and how it relates to a patient's prognosis have served as an example to others in Canada and elsewhere. Canadians have shown a pattern of multidisciplinary representation on staging bodies with epidemiologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons involved in cancer staging over the years. The scope of involvement has ranged from the NCIC Canadian Committee on Cancer Staging to the UICC, FIGO and the AJCC with its expert task forces. The recent consultation initiative to coordinate comprehensive nationwide staging by TNM is considered by the UICC as a potential model for other countries to follow.</p>","PeriodicalId":79570,"journal":{"name":"Cancer prevention & control : CPC = Prevention & controle en cancerologie : PCC","volume":"2 6","pages":"310-1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21334162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B O'Sullivan, M Gospodarowicz, F D Ashbury, B Kralj, E Kaegi
{"title":"Survey of Canadian doctors' attitudes to cancer staging.","authors":"B O'Sullivan, M Gospodarowicz, F D Ashbury, B Kralj, E Kaegi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To collect opinions on the value of cancer staging, the impediments to realizing comprehensive staging and the support that may exist for providing stage information to cancer registries.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>The National Cancer Institute of Canada and the Canadian Committee on Cancer Staging have conducted an opinion survey. Opinions were sought about who should be responsible for allocating the stage, what criteria should be used to alter staging classification and whether population-based registries should contain comprehensive staging data.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>The survey involved 1748 practising cancer specialists representing a cross section of Canadian physicians involved in the treatment and assessment of cancer patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall response rate was 44.4%. Respondents gave broad support to the universal recording of cancer stage in Canada with 75.2% to 78.6% stating that staging is extremely useful for research, cancer statistics and caring for patients. Most respondents (98%) considered that all new cancer patients should have a specific stage assigned at the time of their first definitive treatment, and 78% believed that the clinician responsible for treating patients should determine the stage of cancer. A high proportion (73% to 81%) of respondents considered staging to be extremely important to define disease extent, make treatment decisions, estimate prognosis, facilitate consistent management and to compare results of treatment. The respondents consider lack of adequate information from pathology and imaging reports as barriers to staging. Only a small proportion of respondents were familiar with the organizations responsible for promoting and developing staging classifications.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Canadian survey showed strong support for universal staging and for the development of a central coordinated effort to promote cancer staging in Canada.</p>","PeriodicalId":79570,"journal":{"name":"Cancer prevention & control : CPC = Prevention & controle en cancerologie : PCC","volume":"2 6","pages":"278-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21334817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B O'Sullivan, M Gospodarowicz, W J Mackillop, W K Evans, B Whylie, F D Ashbury
{"title":"The consultation to develop a national strategy for cancer staging in Canada.","authors":"B O'Sullivan, M Gospodarowicz, W J Mackillop, W K Evans, B Whylie, F D Ashbury","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The lack of uniform recording of stage is a continued barrier to the success of cancer control activities. To review the role of staging, in 1997 the Canadian Committee on Cancer Staging (CCCS) of the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) formalised a national Consultation initiative with the input of Canadian oncology leaders and international experts on staging. A document was created from prior background work by the Committee and pre-circulated for comment. The document described the importance of cancer staging to patient care, epidemiological and clinical research, and cancer control programs. The document was refined through an iterative process over much of a year which included a formal workshop of the participants and other meetings. The Consultation reaffirmed, with evidence, the central role of staging in all aspects of cancer management. The report of the Consultation, endorsed by the Board of Directors of NCIC, included the following recommendations: 1) the recording of TNM stage by the treating physician should be a standard of care for every cancer patient in Canada where TNM applies, 2) the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation should include the TNM stage for every cancer patient as a requirement for hospital accreditation. In conclusion, this process represents an effective method for raising awareness about important medical issues such as staging which are fundamental to the management and control of cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":79570,"journal":{"name":"Cancer prevention & control : CPC = Prevention & controle en cancerologie : PCC","volume":"2 6","pages":"287-94"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21334158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of cancer staging in evidence-based medicine.","authors":"W J Mackillop, B O'Sullivan, M Gospodarowicz","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The classification of disease is a fundamental aspect of scientific medicine. Only when a specific condition has been recognized and characterized, can we start to acquire knowledge about it. Anatomic staging is a key element in the classification of malignant disease. The effectiveness of cancer treatment is almost always studied in groups of cases defined by stage. Clinical trials, therefore, create knowledge which is largely specific to particular stages of particular cancers. That knowledge can only be used to guide the practice of oncology if patients are staged. Staging the individual case permits the knowledge derived from previous experience to be used to guide the choice of treatment. The routine use of staging in a population also permits knowledge to be used to optimize the effectiveness of cancer control programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":79570,"journal":{"name":"Cancer prevention & control : CPC = Prevention & controle en cancerologie : PCC","volume":"2 6","pages":"269-77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21334816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psychological distress associated with organized breast cancer screening.","authors":"S Steggles, N Lightfoot, S M Sellick","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regular breast cancer screening with the use of mammography for asymptomatic women is the most effective method for the early detection of breast cancer. Although the health and economic implications of breast cancer screening have received a great deal of attention, the psychological consequences of attending a breast screening program that includes mammography have been largely ignored. This article briefly reviews 10 studies that have examined the psychological distress associated with organized breast cancer screening. Anxiety appears to be the most prevalent consequence of mammography and seems to affect certain subgroups, with the most significant effects being among those women requiring further investigation because of abnormal results. The results of these studies, the research methods used and future directions in this area are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":79570,"journal":{"name":"Cancer prevention & control : CPC = Prevention & controle en cancerologie : PCC","volume":"2 5","pages":"213-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20965355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A Bezjak, K M Taylor, P Ng, K Macdonald, A D DePetrillo
{"title":"Quality-of-life information and clinical practice: the oncologist's perspective.","authors":"A Bezjak, K M Taylor, P Ng, K Macdonald, A D DePetrillo","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To collect information from a group of Canadian oncologists about their perspectives on quality of life (QOL) and QOL information.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A self-administered questionnaire (MD-QOL) containing 75 items with a 4-point Likert categorical response scale was administered by mail using Dillman survey methodology to all staff oncologists at a single institution.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>A large Canadian cancer care centre (Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto).</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Oncologists' knowledge, attitude, current behaviour and intended willingness to use QOL information.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 67 eligible respondents 54 replied (80% response rate). In all, 74% felt that QOL can be quantified, and 95% felt that it gives information distinct from performance status measures. A total of 87% felt that published QOL data are useful for individual patient care, but 69% indicated that, at present, they would be more likely to base their recommendations on personal experience rather than on published literature. Of the respondents, 57% felt that decisions were made more difficult when QOL issues are considered.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The surveyed oncologists support the relevance and importance of QOL information. Data from this study were used to develop a predictive model to assess oncologists' willingness to use QOL information; the model is being tested in other studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":79570,"journal":{"name":"Cancer prevention & control : CPC = Prevention & controle en cancerologie : PCC","volume":"2 5","pages":"230-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20966629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Challenges of developing a cervical screening information system: the Ontario pilot project.","authors":"L D Marrett, B Theis, M I Baker, D Whittick","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To create a cervical screening information and reporting system in 2 geographic areas of Ontario.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A pilot project involving access to, and linkage of, cervical screening-related cytology, colposcopy and histopathology records for women in the study areas, followed by development and production of woman-specific and aggregate reports.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Hospital cytology and pathology departments, colposcopy clinics, private cytology laboratories, and the provincial cancer agency (Cancer Care Ontario, formerly the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation).</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Access to required records; data quality (i.e., standardization, completeness, accuracy); quality of record linkage; utility of reports to evaluators, data sources and physicians.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The pilot project was not completed because of a number of major challenges, including multiple data sources requiring separate investigation and negotiations for access; variations in reporting terminology and coding; incompatibility or lack of computer systems; incompleteness of identifiers for record linkage; variation in legislation permitting data access and sharing and in its interpretation; and major financial, resource and time requirements.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although sufficient will and resources can overcome technical obstacles, changes in legislation will be required to overcome other challenges. Strong links with all sectors involved in cervical screening and attention to changes in the health care system are essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":79570,"journal":{"name":"Cancer prevention & control : CPC = Prevention & controle en cancerologie : PCC","volume":"2 5","pages":"221-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20966628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Socioeconomic status and cancer incidence and survival.","authors":"V Goel","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":79570,"journal":{"name":"Cancer prevention & control : CPC = Prevention & controle en cancerologie : PCC","volume":"2 5","pages":"211-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20965354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}