A nested case-control study of adjuvant hormonal therapy persistence and compliance, and early breast cancer recurrence in women with stage I-III breast cancer.

Background: Non-persistence and non-compliance are common in women prescribed hormonal therapy for breast cancer, but little is known about their influence on recurrence.

Methods: A nested case-control study of associations between hormonal therapy non-persistence and non-compliance and the risk of early recurrence in women with stage I-III breast cancer was undertaken. Cases, defined as women with a breast cancer recurrence within 4 years of hormonal therapy initiation, were matched to controls (1 : 5) by tumour stage and age.

Completeness of case ascertainment at the Irish National Cancer Registry.

Background: Cancer registries play a major role in cancer control, including quantifying the burden of cancer in the population, informing health service planning, and evaluating service provision. Registries must achieve a high level of completeness of case ascertainment.

Aim: Completeness of case ascertainment for the National Cancer Registry (NCR) in Ireland was estimated.

Smoking as an independent risk factor for severe skin reactions due to adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Risk factors for severe acute radiation skin reactions (ARSR) have been described with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of severe ARSR in women undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for breast cancer. 390 women were assessed at the first and final RT sessions and at followup.

A cohort study of digoxin exposure and mortality in men with prostate cancer.

Objective: To examine the association between digoxin exposure and mortality in men with prostate cancer using linked Irish National Cancer Registry and pharmacy claims data.

Patients And Methods: Prostate cancer cases were identified from the database and digoxin exposure at prostate cancer diagnosis was identified from prescription claims. Digoxin users were matched to non-users using a propensity score to identify men with similar cardiovascular comorbidity.

Evaluation of the clinical performance of the cobas 4800 HPV test in patients referred for colposcopy.

The clinical performance of the cobas human papillomavirus (HPV) test for detection of high-grade disease in a colposcopy-referred population was compared with that of Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2). The overall agreement between the tests was 92.3%.

Hospital and surgeon caseload are associated with risk of re-operation following breast-conserving surgery.

Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is increasingly used for breast cancer treatment. One of the disadvantages of BCS is the risk of re-operation, associated with additional costs to the woman, health service and society. Hospital and surgeon caseload have been associated with better outcomes in breast cancer.

A population-based study of hospital length of stay and emergency readmission following surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: We conducted a population-based analysis of time trends in length of stay (LOS), predictors of prolonged LOS and emergency readmission following resection for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Incident lung cancers (ICDO2:C34), diagnosed between 2002 and 2008, were identified from the National Cancer Registry (NCR) of Ireland, and linked to hospital in-patient episodes (HIPE). For those with NSCLC who underwent lung resection, the associated hospital episode was identified.

Factors predicting hospital length-of-stay after radical prostatectomy: a population-based study.

Background: Radical prostatectomy (RP) is a leading treatment option for localised prostate cancer. Although hospital in-patient stays accounts for much of the costs of treatment, little is known about population-level trends in length-of-stay (LOS). We investigated factors predicting hospital LOS and readmissions in men who had RP following prostate cancer.

Stressors, recovery processes, and manifestations of training distress in dance.

Dancers are expected to maintain consistently high levels of performance capability and to perform on demand. To meet these expectations, they subject their bodies to long hours of intensive physical training. Such training regimens are often combined with tight rehearsal and performance schedules, which over time can lead to persistent fatigue, psychological distress, performance decrements, and injury.

A cohort study of metformin exposure and survival in patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer.

Background: Preclinical evidence suggests a beneficial effect of metformin in colorectal cancer. This study aimed to investigate associations between metformin exposure and colorectal cancer-specific survival using population-level data.

Methods: Adult patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer diagnosed from 2001 to 2006 were identified from the National Cancer Registry Ireland.

Age remains the major predictor of curative treatment non-receipt for localised prostate cancer: a population-based study.

Background: Geriatric oncology guidelines state that fit older men with prostate cancer should receive curative treatment. In a population-based study, we investigated associations between age and non-receipt of curative treatment in men with localised prostate cancer, and the effect of clinical variables on this in different age groups.

Methods: Clinically localised prostate cancers (T1-T2N0M0) diagnosed from 2002 to 2008 among men aged ≥ 40 years, with hospital in-patient episode(s) within 1 year post-diagnosis, were included (n=5456).

Factors affecting receipt of a medical card in a cohort of colorectal cancer patients, 2002-2006.

The criteria for allocation of medical cards to colorectal cancer patients < 70 were explored. All invasive colorectal cancers diagnosed during 2002-2006 (n = 4,762) were abstracted and linked to the PCRS master file to determine medical card status. Determinants of medical card possession before diagnosis were; age 65-69yr vs.

How much does it cost to care for survivors of colorectal cancer? Caregiver's time, travel and out-of-pocket costs.

Purpose: Cancer treatment is increasingly delivered in an outpatient setting. This may entail a considerable economic burden for family members and friends who support patients/survivors. We estimated financial and time costs associated with informal care for colorectal cancer.

Depression increases stroke hospitalization cost: an analysis of 17,010 stroke patients in 2008 by race and gender.

Objective. This analysis focuses on the effect of depression on the cost of hospitalization of stroke patients. Methods.

Time costs associated with informal care for colorectal cancer: an investigation of the impact of alternative valuation methods.

Background: A societal perspective in economic evaluation necessitates that all resources associated with a disease or intervention should be valued; however, informal care time costs are rarely considered.

Objective: We estimated time allocated to care by informal carers of colorectal cancer survivors; and investigated the impact of applying alternative valuation methods to this time.

Methods: Colorectal cancer cases (ICD10 C18-C20) diagnosed 6-30 months previously and identified from the National Cancer Registry Ireland were invited to provide details of informal carers.

Cost effectiveness of fecal DNA screening for colorectal cancer: a systematic review and quality appraisal of the literature.

Background: Fecal DNA (fDNA) testing is a noninvasive potential alternative to current colorectal cancer screening tests.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and quality assessment of studies of cost-effectiveness of fDNA as a colorectal cancer screening tool (compared with no screening and other screening modalities), and identified key variables that impinged on cost-effectiveness.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination for cost-effectiveness studies of fDNA-based screening, published in English by September 2011.

Traveling towards disease: transportation barriers to health care access.

Transportation barriers are often cited as barriers to healthcare access. Transportation barriers lead to rescheduled or missed appointments, delayed care, and missed or delayed medication use. These consequences may lead to poorer management of chronic illness and thus poorer health outcomes.

Use of spirometry in the diagnosis of COPD: a qualitative study in primary care.

Guidelines that recommend spirometry to confirm airflow obstruction among patients with suspected COPD are not routinely followed. We conducted a qualitative study to identify attitudes and barriers of primary care physicians to performing spirometry for patients with possible COPD. We conducted four focus groups, each with three primary care physicians (PCPs) who practice in an urban, academic medical center.

Using resource modelling to inform decision making and service planning: the case of colorectal cancer screening in Ireland.

Background: Organised colorectal cancer screening is likely to be cost-effective, but cost-effectiveness results alone may not help policy makers to make decisions about programme feasibility or service providers to plan programme delivery. For these purposes, estimates of the impact on the health services of actually introducing screening in the target population would be helpful. However, these types of analyses are rarely reported.

Impact of alternative management policies on health-related quality of life in women with low-grade abnormal cervical cytology referred for colposcopy.

Objective: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over 30 months among women who received colposcopy following low-grade abnormal cervical cytology.

Design: 751 women with low-grade abnormal cytology were seen for colposcopy. Of these, 350 additionally underwent either immediate treatment by large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) or investigation by punch biopsy followed by treatment of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia if present.

Work-related productivity losses in an era of ageing populations: the case of colorectal cancer.

Objective: We investigated patterns and costs of lost productivity due to colorectal cancer in Ireland and examined how rising pension ages affect these costs.

Methods: Data from a postal survey of colorectal cancer survivors (6 to 30 months after diagnosis; n = 159), taken from March 2010 to January 2011, were combined with population-level survival estimates and national wage data to calculate temporary and permanent disability, and premature mortality, costs using the human capital approach.

Results: Almost 40% of respondents left the workforce permanently after diagnosis and 90% took temporary time off work.

Cost comparisons and methodological heterogeneity in cost-of-illness studies: the example of colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide with over 1 million new cases diagnosed each year. Advances in treatment and survival are likely to have increased lifetime costs of managing the disease. Cost-of-illness (COI) studies are key building blocks in economic evaluations of interventions and comparative effectiveness research.

PET imaging to non-invasively study immune activation leading to antitumor responses with a 4-1BB agonistic antibody.

Background: Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) may allow the non-invasive study of the pharmacodynamic effects of agonistic monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to 4-1BB (CD137). 4-1BB is a member of the tumor necrosis factor family expressed on activated T cells and other immune cells, and activating 4-1BB antibodies are being tested for the treatment of patients with advanced cancers.

Methods: We studied the antitumor activity of 4-1BB mAb therapy using [(18) F]-labeled fluoro-2-deoxy-2-D-glucose ([(18) F]FDG) microPET scanning in a mouse model of colon cancer.