National Cancer Institute Directors (NCID) Meeting 2012

Dr David Zardize talks to ecancer at the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon about the state of cancer prevention and screening in Russia. On the whole, cancer is declining in Russia, especially smoking and alcohol related cancers. This reduction comes from a large effort to change the public perception of smoking and drinking. In Russia, many people are not aware of the extremely detrimental side effects of drinking and smoking and while the numbers are improving in these preventable cancers, the need for screening and early detection is increasing. Examples of success in screening programmes can be seen in the cytological screening for cervical cancer in Scandinavian countries.

Prof Hilal al Sayer talks to ecancer at the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon about paediatric palliative care and the opening of the Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospital in Kuwait. Until recently there has been little or no palliative treatment or holistic care for children or adult patients in Kuwait. Prof al Sayer began work on creating the Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospital after a personal experience with a patient and their family. Now the hospital, which opened this year, is one of the largest in the area for palliative care. Treating patients both at the hospital and in their own homes, Prof al Sayer advises doctors on the importance of how to discuss end of life treatment with the family and the need to do so.

Prof Kurt Zatloukal talks to ecancer at the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon about preclinical work, biobanks and the systematic investigation of human biological samples. Research using biological samples requires a complex legal framework and to combat this biobanks are needed to create international collaboration with a systematic approach. Prof Zatloukal stresses the need for a common framework for bench scientists and clinicians can be meet in this interdisciplinary effort.

Prof Michael Baum talks to ecancer.tv about the need for a dramatic change in the way breast cancer treatment is approached. In contrast to the popular view that personalised therapies are the future of breast cancer treatment, Prof Baum argues that the cost of this approach is not outweighed by the potential benefit. Prof Baum suggests how research resources could better be used especially considering the high proportion of the global cancer burden that is found in less developed countries.

Prof Murat Tuncer discusses the importance of disease prevention and explains what steps must be taken to reduce the prevalence of cancer and other non-communicable diseases. Prof Tuncer identifies the levels of smoking, obesity and diabetes as key factors that should be targeted and outlines how these should be addressed.

Nancy Brinker talks to ecancer.tv about the work her organisation is doing to decrease the level of geographic and economic heterogeneity in cancer treatment standards. The World Breast Cancer Report which was presented at the National Cancer Institute Directors (NCID) meeting in Lyon has uncovered significant disparities between higher income and lower income countries and between rich and poor in high-income countries in all aspects of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Ms Brinker explains that breast cancer is becoming an increasing problem in less economically developed countries and stresses the importance of early detection and the need for more patient support and education.

Prof Otis Brawley discusses the risks and benefits associated with prostate cancer screening and treatment. Although prostate screening procedures are available, 50-60% of patients that test positive for prostate cancer will never experience any symptoms or difficulties associated with their disease. Consequently it is not possible to determine the true effectiveness of treatments or to provide reliable advise if the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the associated side effects.

Dr Patrick Loehrer discusses the difficulties faced improving the standard of cancer care across Africa. Cancer in Africa is predominantly caused by viruses and there are high mortalities from easily curable disease such as cervical cancer. Dr Loehrer explains how the work Indiana University carried out in collaboration with Moi University and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya has been extended from concentrating solely on HIV/AIDS to promoting oncology education, services and research and sharing professional expertise in order to increase cancer prevention, treatment and palliative care.

Dr Paul Ndom talks to ecancer at the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon about NGO activists, cancer care in Cameroon and the Chemotherapy Solidarity Association (SOCHIMIO). The growing problem of cancer diagnosis in Cameroon, as in other African countries, is the main concern with a lack of facilities and trained staff. Previously, funding was given only to the prevention of infectious disease, but now with the rise of cancer cases, funding for prevention research has begun in Cameroon. Many patients never see a doctor outside of their village and can only be seen by a physician when the can travel to them, making consistent treatment very difficult. To correct this problem Dr Ndom stress the need for awareness and action on the part of the government and collaboration with other institutes.

Prof Peter Boyle, chair of the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon, talks to ecancer about the importance and highlights of this meeting. Prof Boyle discusses on the need for collaboration between institutes, screening and creating opportunities for training in developing countries.

Dr Philippe Autier talks to ecancer at the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon about the efficacy of screening programmes. Also mentioned is evidence for new methods for the reorganising of the management of health care and correcting the ineffective methods of breast cancer screening.

Dr Rajendra Badwe talks to ecancer at the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon about the implementation of standard guidelines and making cancer care more cost effective in India. Guidelines need to translate across borders and be tailored to specific infrastructures. Due to financial difficulties in India, cancer care is made affordable by not using recently developed drugs and investigating further uses of older drugs. Dr Badwe also discusses screening in India and the need for solid guidelines before serious implementation of programmes.

Prof Richard Sullivan talks to ecancer at the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon about the value of cancer care and society. The framing for value cancer care and society is not soley based on finances, but on the principles of how to deliver care, treatment or diagnostic, equally to all patients. Prof Sullivan stresses that good care must be put into context for all non-communicable diseases in each country, as different countries have different burdens with other diseases. The proportion of money going into care does not always correlate to the outcomes because organisations framing the policies and their attitudes are just as important as funding.

Dr Aasim Yusuf talks to ecancer at the 2012 National Cancer Institute Directors Meeting in Lyon about the current state of cancer care in Pakistan. The large differences in cancer care in Pakistan compared to the United Kingdom and the United states revolve around the focus on primary care rather than diagnostics. At the moment the large majority of hospitals do not have the facilities or the trained staff to handle the increasing number of cancer cases each year. As Pakistan’s life expectancy has risen in the past decades from 35 to 65, more and more cases present with only around 150-trained oncologist for the whole of the country. Dr Yusuf advises that to tackle the situation there must be a push in training in vital areas like diagnostics.