The Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association
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Review Comparative Study
Human papillomavirus and head and neck cancer: a growing concern.
Head and neck cancer is increasing in incidence in patients without the usual risk factors for the disease. Practitioners need to be aware that young, non-smoking patients are also at risk for certain types of head and neck cancer. ⋯ There is strong epidemiological and laboratory evidence that HPV is a cause of head and neck cancer. Therefore, any patient with persistent lesions, ulcers, swallowing difficulty, change in voice, or neck mass needs prompt referral to an otolaryngologist- head and neck surgeon.
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A discrepancy exists between mortality and incidence rates between African-American and European-American women in South Carolina. The relationship between tumor grade and the estrogen/ progesterone receptor status is different in African-American and European-American women. African-American women with breast cancer should be encouraged to participate in clinical trials, with the goal of identifying biological factors that might facilitate the detection of tumors at an earlier stage and the development of more effective therapies. ⋯ Another promising avenue is thermography. Because detection rates may depend on age, ethnicity, and breast mammographic characteristics, women for whom regular screening methods do not detect their cancers (e.g. older age, African-American ethnicity, dense breasts) must be identified and other screening methods promoted within these populations. The above-mentioned mammography registry would support this type of research.
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Available evidence suggests that there may be qualitative differences in the natural history of PrCA by race. If this is true then additional etiologic research is needed to identify places in the causal chain where we can intervene to lower PrCA rates in AA men. South Carolina may prove to be a useful context in which to study prostate cancer etiology, because of the presence of unique environmental exposures. ⋯ Finally, there currently exists a number of high-quality PrCA treatment, research, and referral resources in the state. Collaborations across agencies, institutes and organizations throughout South Carolina would prove to be beneficial in reaching the most rural (and therefore hardest to reach) populations. Collaborative arrangements will be pursued to increase positive outcomes and better futures for South Carolinians.