Focal liver lesions are commonly encountered in clinical practice. To be able to differentiate potentially life-threatening lesions from clinically insignificant lesions, and to be able to treat them effectively are the two basic problems of a clinician who comes across such lesions. Percutaneous intervention of the liver with a needle enables a clinician to solve the above two problems in a minimally invasive manner. To date, there is a diversity of needle-related percutaneous interventional procedures that are applicable to the clinical management of patients with liver lesions, such as biopsy of focal lesions, drainage of abscesses, and ablation of tumors. Despite a reasonable safety and efficacy associated with these procedures, there are always grounds of further improvement in techniques and technology of needle-related percutaneous procedures to achieve an even better outcome. It was hypothesized that the application of needle-related interventional radiology to clinical management of focal liver lesions could be facilitated and extended with advancement and refinement in needle-related techniques and technology. This thesis was based on a series of nine studies that aimed to explore the potential of needle-related percutaneous interventions in the clinical management of focal liver lesions and to study the effect of the introduction of innovations in needle-related techniques and technology on such clinical applications. It was concluded that the hypothesis was confirmed. / Yu Chun Ho. / "April 2006." / Adviser: Anil Ahuja. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-08, Section: B, page: 5176. / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 219-235). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / School code: 1307.

1. Study on improving the diagnostic accuracy of treatment-naive nasopharyngeal carcinoma. / 2. Study on diagnostic accuracy of EBV-DNA on recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. / 3. Studies on EBV-DNA as a screening tool for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Part 1. To define the detection rate of NPC and the false-positive rate of IgA-VCA in an IgA-VCA-based screening problem, and to define the specificity of IgA-EA in IgA-VCA-positive screenees. Part 2. To define the specificity of EBV-DNA in IgA-VCA-positive screenees. Part 3. To define the sensitivity of IgA-EA, and EBV-DNA in IgA-positive NPC patients. / 4. Studies on pre-therapy prognostication of nasopharyngeal carcinoma Study Part 1. Objective. To assess the role of EBV-DNA in pre-therapy prognostication of early-stage NPC. / Background. The specific association between nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) had been exploited to develop a spectrum of EBV-antibodies-based blood markers. Among these markers, the Immunoglobulin A antibody against the viral capsid antigen (IgA-VCA) of the EBV has been the most popularly employed marker to assist diagnosis of NPC. There is however a relative paucity of data on the application of blood markers for screening, for detection of relapse, and for prognostification of patient cohorts managed in present-day therapy oncology protocols. Peripheral blood EBV-DNA, measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, is a newly-developed marker, and represents a prototype model of a nuclei acid-based, as opposed to antibody-based, EBV tumor marker for NPC. The present thesis describes the translation of this basic scientific advance into clinical applications, through several prospective and retrospective studies that address the diagnosis of treatment-naive NPC, the detection of recurrent NPC, the screening of individuals at risk of NPC, the pre-therapy prognostication for NPC to guide for choice of therapy. The role of integration of conventional markers and EBV-DNA in clinical applications was also examined. / Study Part 2. Objectives. To assess whether incorporation of EBV-DNA data to TNM staging improves prognostic discrimination of patients subsets within individual cancer stage, to assess if EBV-DNA is an independent prognostic factor for survival after ontological therapy. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Leung Sing-fai. / "February 2005." / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 3695. / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / School code: 1307.

(1) MRI is shown to be an accurate test for detecting NPC and one which has the potential to be used in screening to (a) screen out normal patients who do not require endoscopie biopsy; and (b) identify small tumours that would be missed on endoscopy. / (2) At diagnosis staging NPC by MRI reveals that oropharyngeal and maxillary sinus invasion are markers of more advanced disease than reflected in current staging system. Tumour involvement of the preclival/prevertebral region, skull base and retropharyngeal nodes are more common than previously recognised by computed tomography, while parapharyngeal tumour invasion is less common. The latter resuits from the superior ability of MRI to differentiate primary tumours with true parapharyngeal invasion from those contained within the nasopharynx which are causing bowing of the wall or lie adjacent to a retropharyngeal node. / (3) Post treatment complications were detected by MRI in over 50% of patients. Neural damage, especially to the temporal lobes and 12th cranial nerves, was the most frequent complication (48%), followed by osteoradionecrosis (20%) involving the mandible, upper cervical spine and skull base, the latter including destruction of the roof of the nasopharynx. Malignant tumours and unusual benign masses (6%) showed radiological features useful in the differential diagnosis from NPC recurrence. Malignant tumours were mainly squamous cell carcinomas or sarcomas showing a predilection for the maxillary region, tongue and external auditory canal. The unusual benign masses were found in the nasopharynx/sphenoid sinus. / (4) Finally functional MRI using DWI and 1H-MRS are feasible in the technically challenging region of the head and neck. Choline ratios and ADC values of NPC are established. The successful demonstration of differences between the biomarkers of NPC and those of lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma, show that functional MRI is a new tool for the evaluation of NPC, opening up the possibility that these biomarkers can be used for monitoring NPC treatment response in the future. / Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides excellent anatomical detail and functional information about cancer. This thesis explores the role of MRI in the assessment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from detection through to the long term complications of radiotherapy treatment. / Ann D King. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3468. / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-191). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English only. / School code: 1307.

Aim. In this study, we attempted to identify HCC-specific serum glycoproteins by using glycoproteomic technologies. We targeted at finding glycoforms with aberrant alpha-2,6-sialylation and alpha-1,6-fucosylation in sera of HCC patients. These glycoforms may have potentials to be used as tumor marker(s) in the diagnosis of HCC. / Among the validated differential glycoproteins, Hp was the only glycoprotein, glycoforms of which were found to be significantly up-regulated in the HCC group when examining both the sialylated glycoprotein profiles and the fucosylated glycoprotein profiles. This glycoprotein was selected for further investigation. In the independent validation group, increased serum levels of Hp (total), alpha-2,6 sialylated Hp and alpha-1,6 fucosylated Hp was observed in the HCC patients. A unique pattern of Hp glycoforms comprising both hypersialylated fucosylated and hyposialytated fucosylated species was found in the HCC patients. Serum concentrations of these glycoforms were significantly higher in the HCC patients with advanced tumor, suggesting their tumor-specific nature. Besides, we have performed quantitative profiling of N-glycans of serum Hp in the HCC patients, CLD patients and normal subjects, and have attempted to identify HCC-associated N-glycans for HCC diagnosis. Combined used of serum alpha-fetoprotein, serum Hp and its N-glycans, we could achieve 84% sensitivity at 100% and 93% specificities when distinguishing the HCC patients from the CLD patients and from the normal subjects, respectively. / Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often arises in patients with coexisting chronic liver disease (CLD). Since alpha-fetoprotein, a conventional biomarker, may also be raised in patients with uncomplicated CLD, the use of alpha-fetoprotein in early detection of HCC is limited. Identification of additional biomarkers may improve early detection. Previous studies have shown that levels of alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase and alpha-1,6-fucosyltransferase change in liver cancer, leading to aberrant glycosylations on some serum proteins. / Conclusion. By undertaking glycoproteomic approach, we have identified a panel of potential biomarkers for diagnosis of HCC. These biomarkers were useful for classifying among normal healthy subjects, CLD patients, patients with early HCC and patients with advanced HCC. Some of them were validated with the independent cases. Finally, we have identified a unique pattern of Hp glycoforms comprising both hypersialylated fucosylated and hyposialylated fucosylated species in the HCC patients. Serum Hp and its N-glycans have been shown to have potential values for aiding the diagnosis of HCC. / Methodology. There are four parts in this study. The first part is "method development". A method for obtaining quantitative profiles of serum glycoproteins with alpha-2,6-sialylation or alpha-1,6-fucosylation was developed by combined use of lectin affinity chromatography, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and enzyme-linked lectin assay. The second part is "biomarker discovery". The quantitative profiles of the serum glycoproteins from 20 HCC patients and 10 CLD patients (control) were compared by bioinformatic approaches to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis of HCC. The protein identities of the potential targets were obtained by using MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. The third part is "validation". An independent set of serum samples from 40 HCC patients, 30 CLD patients and 20 normal subjects was used to evaluate the diagnostic values of the potential biomarkers. The last part of this study was aimed to identify HCC-associated N-glycans on one of potential biomarkers found, and examine their values in diagnosis of HCC. / Result. When analyzing alpha-2,6-sialylated glycoproteins, 53 glycoprotein spots were significantly different between the HCC and CLD groups, of which 44 spots belonged to 13 glycoproteins. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that these differential sialoglycoprotein profiles contained valuable information for differentiating the HCC patients from CLD patients, and classifying between early HCC and advanced HCC patients. When analyzing alpha-1,6-fucosylated proteins, 11 glycoprotein spots were significant different between the two study groups, of which 8 spots belonged to 1 glycoprotein. Majority of the protein identities were successfully obtained by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Among the differential glycoproteins, we have identified a subgroup with a unique pattern of glycosylation. These glycoproteins were characterized by the presence of hypersialylated and fucosylated glycoforms. The differential patterns and the diagnostic values of some of these serum glycoproteins were confirmed in the independent validation group by measuring their serum levels with immunoassays. The results of the logistic regression analyses suggest that complement factor B and haptoglobin (Hp) can be used in combination with alpha-fetoprotein to improve the diagnosis of HCC. / Ang, Ling. / Adviser: Tereng Chuen Wai Poon. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 0947. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 215-238). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Parmi les diverses méthodes d’imagerie médicales, les méthodes d’imagerie optique connaissent depuis une vingtaine d’années un développement significatif. Parmi les techniques d’imagerie optique récemment mises en œuvre, la Tomographie Optique Cohérente Plein Champ – ou OCT Plein Champ – présente des caractéristiques remarquables, en particulier en termes de résolution et de simplicité instrumentale, permettant d’envisager son application au domaine du diagnostic du cancer. Cette thèse décrit la conception et la mise en œuvre de dispositifs d’OCT Plein Champ pour utilisation en contexte clinique, afin d’évaluer la performance de la technique pour le diagnostic peropératoire du cancer, en vue de son amélioration et optimisation. Dans cet objectif nous avons réalisé des travaux regroupés en 2 axes : Une partie translationnelle, consistant à développer un dispositif de microscopie optique par OCT Plein Champ répondant au besoin clinique pour le diagnostic peropératoire du cancer sur biopsies, en vue de l’évaluation de ses performances de diagnostic sur plusieurs problématiques cliniques : le diagnostic peropératoire du tissu mammaire, de résection de cerveau, ainsi que la qualification préopératoire de greffons cornéens. Une partie exploratoire, principalement instrumentale, dédiée à l’amélioration des performances de diagnostic de la technique, proposant de nouvelles approches multimodales (contraste de fluorescence, contraste dynamique) et multi-échelles, ou encore la déclinaison du dispositif sous la forme d’un endoscope rigide portable utilisable en contexte clinique. / Among medical imaging techniques, optical imaging methods have been significantly developped during the past decades. More specifically, among recently proposed optical imaging techniques, Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography – or FFOCT – provides unique capabilities, in particular regarding resolution and instrumental simplicity, which allows to consider its application to cancer diagnosis. This thesis demonstrates the design and implementation of new FFOCT devices for use in a clinical context, targeting improvement and optimization of the technique. Two major development parts have been realized : A translational part, comprising the development of a FFOCT microscope adapted to a clinical use for intraoperative diagnosis of cancer on tissue biopsies, and the assessment of its diagnosis performance for several clinical cases : the intraoperative diagnosis of breast tissue, of brain resections, and the preoperative qualification of corneal grafts. A research part - mainly instrumental - targeting the improvement of the diagnosis performance of the technique, based on new multimodal (fluorescence contrast, dynamic contrast) and multiscale approaches, or on the miniaturization of the device by developing a handheld rigid endoscope for clinical use.

Kan, Hoi Lam. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-124). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiii / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xiv / PUBLICATION --- p.xvi / Chapter SECTION I: --- BACKGROUND --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1. --- Epidemiology of HCC --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2. --- Etiology of HCC --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1. --- Cirrhosis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Hepatitis virus --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.3. --- Plant carcinogens --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.4. --- Miscellaneous factors --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3. --- Clinical presentation of HCC --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4. --- Existing diagnostic tests for HCC --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- Imaging --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5. --- Treatment of HCC --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.1. --- Surgical Resection and Transplantation --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.2. --- Tumor Ablation or Embolization --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.3. --- Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy --- p.9 / Chapter 1.6. --- Tumor marker development for HCC detection --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6.1. --- Oncofetal antigens and glycoprotein antigens --- p.11 / Chapter 1.6.2. --- Enzymes and isoenzymes --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.3. --- Growth factors --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.4. --- Genetics and epigenetics - mRNA and methylation --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes in cancer --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1. --- Cancer epigenetics --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2. --- DNA methylation in normal cells --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3. --- Physiological role of DNA methylation in normal cells --- p.18 / Chapter 2.4. --- Aberrant DNA methylation in cancer --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4.1. --- DNA hypomethylation in cancer --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4.2. --- DNA hypermethylation in cancer --- p.20 / Chapter 2.5. --- Development of methylation markers in tumor diagnosis --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5.1. --- Methods for the analysis of DNA methylation markers --- p.22 / Chapter 2.5.2. --- Detection of tumor-associated methylated DNA in the circulation of cancer patients / Chapter 2.6. --- Aim of thesis --- p.27 / Chapter SECTION II: --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Methods for detecting DNA methylation --- p.29 / Chapter 3.1. --- Subject recruitment --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2. --- Sample collection and processing --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- Tumor tissue samples --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Peripheral blood samples --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3. --- DNA extraction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Plasma samples --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Blood cells --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- Tumor tissue --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4. --- Quantitative analysis of methylated DNA using methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme-mediated real-time quantitative PCR (MSRE-qPCR) --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme-mediated real-time quantitative PCR --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4.3. --- Real-time PCR primer design --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4.4. --- Duplex real-time PCR --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.5. --- "Real-time detection of GSTP1, SOCS1, A PC, pl6 and ACTB sequences" --- p.41 / Chapter 3.4.6. --- Statistical analysis of real-time PCR results --- p.41 / Chapter 3.5. --- "Methylation study of GSTP1, SOCS1, APC, pl6 and ACTB in tumor tissues and blood cells using bisulfite sequencing" --- p.46 / Chapter 3.5.1. --- Principle of bisulfite modification --- p.46 / Chapter 3.5.2. --- Bisulfite conversion --- p.47 / Chapter 3.5.3. --- Sequencing primer design --- p.47 / Chapter 3.5.4. --- Conventional PCR after bisulfite treatment --- p.49 / Chapter 3.5.5. --- Cloning and bisulfite genomic sequencing --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.6. --- Data acquisition and interpretation --- p.54 / Chapter SECTION III: --- DEVELOPMENT OF METHYLATION MARKERS IN HCC DETECTION / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Evaluation of the real-time PCR assay for quantification of methylated tumor suppressor genes --- p.57 / Chapter 4.1. --- Development of real-time PCR assays --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2. --- Methylation analyses by bisulfite sequencing were concordant with the real-time quantification results --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Clinical application of methylated markers in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma --- p.69 / Chapter 5.1. --- Demographics of HCC patients and HB V carriers --- p.69 / Chapter 5.2. --- Quantitative analysis of hypermethylated tumor suppressor genes in tumor and plasma samples --- p.71 / Chapter 5.3. --- Effect of cirrhosis on the plasma methylated tumor suppressor gene concentrations --- p.77 / Chapter 5.4. --- Changes in the concentration of the tumor suppressor genes one month after surgical resection of the cancer --- p.81 / Chapter 5.5. --- Concurrent use of serum AFP level and plasma methylated markers for HCC diagnosis --- p.84 / Chapter 5.6. --- Prognostic value of plasma methylated TSGs --- p.86 / Chapter SECTION IV: --- DISCUSSION --- p.90 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Discussion --- p.91 / Chapter 6.1. --- Tumor and plasma detection of hypermethylated tumor suppressor genes --- p.92 / Chapter 6.2. --- No effect of cirrhosis on plasma methylated DNA level --- p.94 / Chapter 6.3. --- Clearance of methylated TSG sequences after tumor resection --- p.95 / Chapter 6.4. --- Concurrent use of serum AFP level and the presence of methylated markers in the plasma in HCC diagnosis --- p.95 / Chapter 6.5. --- Prognostic significance of circulating methylated tumor markers --- p.96 / Chapter SECTION V: --- CONCLUDING REMARKS --- p.98 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- Conclusions and future perspectives --- p.99 / REFERENCES --- p.103

In the development of noninvasive optical biopsy, normal tissues can be statistically differentiated from precancerous and cancerous tissues by analyzing their autofluorescence spectra. The observed cancer hallmarks in the spectra are manifestations of biochemical and morphological changes in tissue during cancerous transformation. For detection of colorectal cancers, it has been hypothesized that the major contributors to tissue fluorescence are three endogenous fluorophores – reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and collagen. Separating and identifying endogenous fluorophores in cells/tissues using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser–induced fluorescence (LIF) detection holds promise as a simple and fast method to analyze fluorophore compositions in tissues during the cancerous transformation. To this end, we have established the extraction and separation protocols for quantifying endogenous fluorophores in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT–29) and human normal colon cells (FHC). Flavin mononucleotide (FMN), FAD, NADH and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) have been identified in the cell extracts by spiking them with standards and quantified by standard addition methods. The influence of cell densities and cell growth stages on fluorophore composition has been closely examined. Two–dimensional (2D) correlation coefficient mapping of electropherograms of HT–29 and FHC cell extracts reveals that the HT–29 cell extracts with higher cell density can be differentiated from FHC and HT–29 cell extracts with lower cell density, which is also demonstrated by the comparison of peak area ratios of NADH and NADPH. The electropherograms for 2D correlation analysis are pretreated by aligning their prominent peaks to account for peak shifting. A challenge in biological spectroscopy of cells and tissue is the identification of endogenous components that contribute to the overall complex spectra and the diagnostic signature. We propose 2D generalized correlation of CE–LIF electropherograms and fluorescence spectra in order to resolve the overlapped fluorescence spectra into their individual components. Separation of the endogenous fluorophores in normal and cancer cells by CE–LIF has provided us insight into fluorophore compositions and tools for classifications of cells. It has also prepared us for extraction and separation of tissues under different physiological conditions to assist cancer diagnosis.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-168) Aim was the purification and identification of the early primitive ectoderm-like (EPL) cell induction signals within the medium conditioned by the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and the localisation of the signals that induce EPL cell and primitive ectoderm formation.

Adolescence is the period of physical and emotional development from childhood to adulthood. As an adolescent develops they struggle with many issues including developing independence from their parents, embracing peer culture, an increase in the importance of body image and the development of sexual, vocational, and moral identity. The diagnosis and treatment for cancer can interfere with the adolescent meeting these goals, and subsequently cause the experience of adolescence to be more difficult. The aim of this study was to identify how adolescents with cancer cope with their situation. The objectives were to determine the resources adolescents utilise to cope with their experience, and the coping strategies adolescents use to cope with their experience. A thorough literature review identified that there had previously been only limited research with adolescents with cancer. In particular there had been very few qualitative studies investigating the specific coping strategies used by adolescents with cancer, with no such research being undertaken in Queensland. This study was conducted under the epistemological stance of constructionism. Meaning was constructed for this study of adolescents with cancer through the use of grounded theory methods, and secondary analysis of data. Interviews were collected by the researcher for a project at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Using grounded theory methods, seven of the interviews were analysed. In the process of developing a central category, Schatzman's Dimensional Matrix was used to assign codes into context, processes, consequences, and conditions, under the central category of “conquering the cancer experience”. The experience of diagnosis and treatment for cancer was difficult for these adolescents, however they ultimately coped and became stronger as a result of their experience. The key findings of this study identified that adolescents were able to cope with their experience. These finding were discussed in relation to factors which enhanced their coping, factors which influenced their ability to cope and how the experience changed the adolescent. Recommendations were also made with the aim of improving the experience of adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer in Queensland. Through the implementation of the recommendations of this study, hopefully the journey of adolescents with cancer can be made easier.

Older people represent an increasing proportion of new cancer diagnoses yet little is known about their experiences with cancer or their knowledge about risk factors, benefits of lifestyle modification to decrease risk or participation in early detection programs. Two studies were conducted, the first to document a lived experience with a new cancer diagnosis and the second to test for relationships between knowledge and attitude to cancer and self-reported participation in screening for breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. / http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1297244 / Thesis (D.Nurs.) -- School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, 2007