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Since 1996, the annual Stride for a Cure charity walk - one of the major fundraising events in aid of cancer research, has funded a number of local research projects with important findings:
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Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Hong Kong with almost 3,500 new cases every year (Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority, 2004). Studies have shown that early screening is the most effective way to prevent colorectal cancer, especially for those diagnosed with hereditary gastrointestinal cancer genes. Since 2006, funding was provided to The Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetic Diagnosis Laboratory of the Department of Pathology at The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, and a charitable patient referral centre named Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry in St. Paul's Hospital. The Laboratory and the Registry together will provide appropriate genetic diagnosis, genetic counselling and psychosocial support for patients in need. According to the family cancer pattern, they will provide appropriate genetic diagnosis tests and genetic counselling. Based on the genetic diagnosis result, they will advise patients and families on appropriate preventive and screening measures so as to achieve cancer prevention.
The project provides both essential data on colorectal cancer and emotional support and treatment for the high-risk families. It also provides workshops for medical professionals in order to facilitate proper follow-up and referral services to those in need.
If you would like to learn more about the project, please visit : http://www.hku.hk/patho/colonreg
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Breast cancer is the number one cancer among women in Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, more than 2,200 new cases were found in 2004 and it is the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women. It was found that psychosocial interventions could help improve patients' quality of life. However, only limited research of this kind has taken place among the Chinese population. In order to bridge this gap, the University of Hong Kong Centre on Behavioral Health carried out an evidence-based research funded by Hong Kong Cancer Fund on Chinese breast cancer patients in Hong Kong. The objective is to find out the psychological and physiological effects of different types of psychosocial interventions on these patients. |
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Patients were randomly assigned to one of three psychosocial intervention groups which measures their quality of life, emotional control, cancer-related coping, and post-traumatic growth. |
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NPC is common among males in Hong Kong. Approximately 933 new cases were found in 2004. It is the seventh most common cancer in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority, 2004). As with many other types of cancer, there is a lack of local Asian studies on NPC as the disease is far more common in Hong Kong and southern China than other parts of the world. It is therefore essential that local research on the topic be conducted.
Funding was provided to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in 2004 to conduct two trials among local Chinese patients: the addition of chemotherapy and the shortening of the radiotherapy treatment period. Although radiotherapy remains the standard treatment, the result is unsatisfactory for patients in the late stages. The objective is to find out whether the former would give better results than radiotherapy alone and if the latter may significantly improve the result of treatment. |
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According to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, liver cancer is the third most common cancer in Hong Kong and every year, 1,600 new cases are diagnosed with 1,400 people dying from the disease. Liver cancer has no early symptoms and is often only diagnosed at a very late stage, by which surgery and treatment are already impossible.
Funding was provided to the Chinese University's Screening and Surveillance Study on Hepatitis B Carriers between 1997 and 2000. Hepatitis B carriers with a high level of alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) (>20ng/dl) or abnormal ultrasound (AUS) are monitored by an intensive programme that screens patients every 3 months for 2 years and then every six months thereafter.
The finding proved that early and frequent tests for hepatitis B carriers will help detect early liver cancers and will significantly improve the survival rates of patients. It is therefore recommended that people who are among the high risk group should be monitored and screened on a frequent basis to detect liver cancer.
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