Search

Simple Summary: Ovarian cancer survival in the UK is poorer than other similar countries. Results from the National Ovarian Cancer Audit Feasibility Pilot (OCAFP) showed that approximately 1 in 4 women with advanced stage ovarian cancer (greater than Stage 2) do not receive any anti-cancer treatment and that only 51% will receive both surgery and chemotherapy in England. The audit also showed that the proportions of women receiving treatment varies a lot across different areas in England. In response, a multidisciplinary team from the British Gynaecological cancer society has established Quality performance indicators that can be evaluated regularly using routinely collected data and will help improve cancer outcomes. Ovarian cancer survival in the UK lags behind comparable countries. Results from the ongoing National Ovarian Cancer Audit feasibility pilot (OCAFP) show that approximately 1 in 4 women with advanced ovarian cancer (Stage 2, 3, 4 and unstaged cancer) do not receive any anticancer treatment and only 51% in England receive international standard of care treatment, i.e., the combination of surgery and chemotherapy. The audit has also demonstrated wide variation in the percentage of women receiving anticancer treatment for advanced ovarian cancer, be it surgery or chemotherapy across the 19 geographical regions for organisation of cancer delivery (Cancer Alliances). Receipt of treatment also correlates with survival: 5 year Cancer survival varies from 28.6% to 49.6% across England. Here, we take a systems wide approach encompassing both diagnostic pathways and cancer treatment, derived from the whole cohort of women with ovarian cancer to set out recommendations and quality performance indicators (QPI). A multidisciplinary panel established by the British Gynaecological Cancer Society carefully identified QPI against criteria: metrics selected were those easily evaluable nationally using routinely available data and where there was a clear evidence base to support interventions. These QPI will be valuable to other taxpayer funded systems with national data collection mechanisms and are to our knowledge the only population level data derived standards in ovarian cancer. We also identify interventions for Best practice and Research recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for 99.7% of cervical cancer. Worldwide, cervical cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer, around one every two minutes. In the not so distant future cervical cancer may cause more deaths globally per year, (275,000 in 2008), than maternal deaths, (358,000 in 2008). Over 200 types of HPV have been identified. HPV is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Most HPV infections are cleared by the immune system; persistent infection may cause intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive disease. Prophylactic HPV vaccines prevent disease caused by the included HPV types and potentially prevent 70–75% cases of cervical cancer. The UK added HPV vaccination to the national immunization programme in 2008. The vaccines are safe and well tolerated. It is likely that the benefits will be seen over a 15–20 year period. Tests for HPV have been developed and are being evaluated as to their possible role in clinical practice. Research is ongoing regarding therapeutic HPV vaccination and second generation prophylactic vaccines to prevent more cases of cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]