No description available.

Secular trends in breast cancer incidence in younger women suggest environmental factors, like exposure to environmental chemicals, may play a role in rising incidence. One of the strongest risk factors for developing breast cancer, next to family history, is high mammographic breast density, which is defined as the proportion of fibroglandular breast tissue relative to fat as seen on a mammogram. Phthalates, a ubiquitous endocrine disrupting chemical, have the potential to interfere with endogenous hormones like estrogen and androgens. There is growing evidence from animal and epidemiologic studies indicating distinct periods of heightened susceptibility to endocrine disrupting chemicals throughout the life course, particularly during critical windows of breast development. Exposure to hormonally active environmental chemicals like phthalates may be a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer, therefore reducing or eliminating exposure could have substantial public health benefits. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to assess the relationship between exposure to phthalates during two critical windows of susceptibility, the prenatal and pregnancy periods, and its effect on breast tissue composition in adolescence and adulthood. First, a comprehensive review of epidemiologic studies summarized the body of evidence for the association between phthalate exposure and intermediate markers known to be in the causal pathway of breast cancer risk (age at breast development, menarche, and breast tissue composition). This systematic review of the literature aimed to identify potential patterns of evidence by outcome and timing of exposure. Evidence from this review suggested that phthalate exposure during the prenatal and childhood periods may play a role in altering menarche. Findings for phthalate exposure and age at breast development were inconclusive. There was a considerable lack of epidemiologic data on phthalate exposure and breast tissue composition throughout the life course. Based on one study, there is a potential association between phthalate exposure during pre-puberty and altered breast tissue density in adolescent girls. No study assessed the relationship between phthalate exposure during the prenatal or pregnancy period and subsequent breast tissue composition. Second, an examination for the association between prenatal phthalate exposure and breast tissue composition measured in adolescence (Chapter 3) and the association between phthalate exposure during pregnancy and breast tissue composition measured during or after the postpartum transient period (Chapter 4) aimed to address this major gap identified from the comprehensive review. The empirical chapters of this dissertation used data from an ongoing longitudinal birth cohort study of mothers and their children conducted by the New York City Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health and the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Project (CCCEH-BCERP). The CCCEH-BCERP study cohort has prospective data on nine phthalate metabolite concentrations measured during the third trimester of pregnancy and breast tissue composition measured in a subsample of mother-daughter dyads. Notably, we used novel non-invasive methods (optical breast spectroscopy) in this younger cohort of mothers and daughters to objectively measure specific components of the bulk breast composition before mammography screening age. There was significant evidence of altered breast tissue composition in both mothers and daughters. For daughters (n=127, mean age 15.2 ± 1.9 years), prenatal exposures to select low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) phthalate metabolites altered overall breast density in opposing directions, which appears to be driven by significant altered percent breast water. There was a significant association between higher prenatal levels of a LMW phthalate metabolite (monobutyl phthalate) and lower levels of overall breast density (adjusted β = -0.32; 95% CI: -0.51, -0.13) and significant association between sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (∑DEHP), a HMW phthalate metabolite, and higher levels of overall breast density in girls (adjusted β = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.34). For mothers (n=133, mean age 41 ± 5.3 years at follow-up), there was a significant association between two LMW phthalate metabolites and lower levels of percent breast collagen. Additionally, there was a significant inverse relationship between levels of mono-(3-carboxypropyl), a HMW phthalate metabolite, and percent total hemoglobin of the breast (adjusted β =-0.03; 95% CI: -0.06, 0.00, p=0.05). Overall, this dissertation increased our understanding of the impact that exposure to phthalates during critical windows of susceptibility may have on specific components of the breast. Reducing exposure to both HMW and LMW phthalates may have an impact in reducing breast cancer risk, particularly for girls prenatally exposed, as there was stronger evidence of higher overall breast density and percent water from exposure to select HMW phthalates. Future prospective studies should confirm these results as findings might provide an opportunity for modifying potential breast cancer risk.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in women. In 2008 there were 182,460 women diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,480 women died of this disease. Breast cancer can be prevented by medical (tamoxifen or raloxifene) or surgical approaches (bilateral mastectomy or oophorectomy). Prevention is only recommended for women at high risk for developing breast cancer; therefore, proper risk calculation is essential in identifying women that may benefit from prevention measures. There is an easy-to-use and easily accessible risk calculation tool for determining a woman's risk of developing breast cancer and need for referral for counseling, gene testing, and possibly preventive therapy. This article reviews the components of risk assessment, the most frequently used risk calculation tool, and approaches to breast cancer risk reduction including medical and surgical therapies. The use of these therapies results in a risk reduction of 50-90%.

Lin, Hualiang. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-177). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Introdução: O câncer de localização colorretal é o terceiro tipo de câncer mais comumente diagnosticado no mundo. As taxas de incidências do câncer colorretal não são homogêneas, apresentando diferenças entre os países. Não há estudos brasileiros que investiguem a variação geográfica da incidência de câncer colorretal conjuntamente com indicadores socioeconômicos. Esta avaliação pode revelar diferenças locais importantes na ocorrência da doença. Objetivos: Descrever as taxas de incidência e de mortalidade do câncer colorretal no Município de São Paulo, segundo sexo e faixa etária, no período de 1997 a 2009 e realizar análise da distribuição espacial segundo distrito dos casos de câncer colorretal diagnosticados em residentes no Município de São Paulo entre 1997 e 2009. Material e Métodos: Foram analisados os novos casos de câncer colorretal diagnosticados em residentes no Município de São Paulo de 1997 a 2009. Estes dados foram fornecidos pelo Registro de Câncer de Base Populacional de São Paulo (RCBP-SP). A análise dos dados foi realizada em duas etapas: na primeira, com cárater exploratório/descritivo, os dados analíticos foram utilizados para descrever a incidência e mortalidade por câncer colorretal no período pesquisado. Na segunda etapa, os casos de câncer colorretal foram geocodificados, agrupados por distrito administrativo e estudados segundo a metodologia de análise para dados de área. Toda análise foi implementada no software R. Resultados: Com 7,7 por cento e 7,3 por cento dos casos respectivamente em homens e mulheres, câncer colorretal foi o segundo tipo de câncer mais frequente, sendo a quarta (9,0 por cento dos óbitos) e a segunda (11,0 por cento dos óbitos) causa de morte respectivamente em homens e mulheres. Do total de casos incidentes (39.250), 47,50 por cento são do sexo masculino e 52,50 por cento do sexo feminino. Destes, 4.784 (37,7 por cento ) evoluíram a óbito, sendo 48,1 por cento no sexo masculino e 51,9 por cento no sexo feminino. As taxas específicas por sexo e faixa etária de incidência aumentam fortemente com a idade, na faixa etária de 80 ou mais anos chega a 377,9 e 282,9 (por 100 mil hab.) para o sexo masculino e feminino respectivamente, sendo relativamente próximas em ambos os sexos até a idade de 49 anos e maiores para homens nas faixas etárias subsequentes. As taxas específicas por sexo e faixa etária de mortalidade, apresentam comportamento análogo, aumentam fortemente com a idade, na faixa etária de 80 ou mais anos chega a 206,9 e 159,9 (por 100 mil hab.) para o sexo masculino e feminino respectivamente. A taxa anual de incidência ajustada pela população de SEGI (1960) e modificada por DOLL et al. (1966) apresenta-se em torno de 30,0 (por 100 mil hab.) nos três primeiros anos observados (1997-1999), chega a 19,0 (por 100 mil hab.) em 2002, volta a crescer nos anos seguintes (2003-2005), chegando a 31,7 (por 100 mil hab.) e matem-se estável de 2007 a 2009. A taxa anual de mortalidade de câncer colorretal ajustada pela população crescente até 2004, chegando a 15,7 (por 100 mil hab.) e decrescem nos anos seguintes, chegando a aproximadamente 3,6 mortes por 100 mil habitantes em 2009. A média anual da taxa bruta de incidência e os indicadores socioeconômicos apresentam dependência forte dependência espacial, sendo o menor Índice I de Moran observado foi para o índice de exclusão/inclusão dos anos potenciais de vida perdidos (IEX apvp = 0,29), os demais são acima de 0,6. Os indicadores apresentam forte correlação linear com a média anual da taxa bruta de incidência. Conclusões: As distribuições da incidência e da mortalidade apresentam padrões semelhantes ao identificado mundialmente. O Município de São Paulo tem taxas equivalentes às encontradas nas regiões em transição econômica. Foi identificada forte dependência espacial na distribuição da incidência de câncer colorretal no Município de São Paulo, com a formação de clusters nas áreas centrais e periféricas. As maiores taxas são encontradas nas áreas centrais e nas periferias. A distribuição espacial da incidência de câncer colorretal apresenta forte associação com a distribuição dos indicadores de status socioeconômico no Município de São Paulo, em particular apresenta associação positiva com indicadores de renda e escolaridade. / Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most common diagnosed cancer worldwide. Colorectal cancer incidence rates are not homogeneous, with differences between countries. No Brazilian studies investigated the geographical variation of colorectal cancer incidence with socioeconomic indicators. This study may reveal important local differences in the occurrence of the disease. Objectives: To describe colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in São Paulo, by sex and age using 1997-2009 data and perform the spatial distribution analysis according to district colorectal cancer cases diagnosed in residents at Municipality of São Paulo between 1997 and 2009. Methods: Colorectal cancer cases diagnosed from 1997 to 2009 in São Paulo residents were analyzed. These data were provided by Population Based Cancer Registry of São Paulo (RCBP-SP). Data analysis was performed in two stages. First, analytical data were used to describe the incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer. Second, colorectal cancer cases were geocoded, grouped by administrative district and studied according data area analysis methodology. All analysis was implemented in software R. Results: 7.7 per cent and 7.3 per cent of observed cases was respectively in men and women, colorectal cancer was the second most common cancer, the fourth (9.0 per cent ) cause of death in men and the second (11.0 per cent ) cause in women. It was diagnosed 39,250 colorectal cancer new cases, 47.50 per cent in men and 52.50 per cent in women. And 4,784 (37.7 per cent ) died, with 48.1 per cent in male and 51.9 per cent in female. The specific incidence rates strongly increase with age, at the 80 years or more age reaches 377.9 and 282.9 (per 100,000 inhabitants) for male and female respectively. The mortality specific rates, have similar behavior, strongly increase with age and at the 80 years or more age reaches 206.9 and 159.9 (per 100,000 inhabitants), for males and female respectively. The annual age adjusted incidence rate was around 30.0 (per 100,000 inhab.) in the first observed years (1997-1999), arrives to 19.0 (per 100,000 inhab.) in 2002, grow back reaching 31.7 (per 100,000 inhab.) and kill stable from 2007 to 2009. The annual age colorectal cancer mortality rate grow reaching 15.7 (per 100,000 inhab.) and decrease in the following years, reaching approximately 3.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2009. The average annual the crude incidence rate and the socio-economic indicators show strong spatial dependence, the lowest Moran´s I Index was observed for the exclusion/inclusion potential years of life lost index (IEX apvp = 0.29). The indicators show strong linear correlation with the average annual crude incidence rate. Conclusions: Distributions of incidence and mortality have similar worldwide patterns. The Municipality of São Paulo has equivalent rates founded in regions in economic transition. It was identified strong spatial dependence in the distribution of the incidence of colorectal cancer, with the formation of clusters in the central and peripheral areas of Municipality of São Paulo. The highest rates were found in the central areas and lowest were found in the suburbs. The spatial distribution of colorectal cancer incidence has a strong association with the socioeconomic status indicators distribution in Municipality of São Paulo. It was identified positive association between colorectal cancer incidence with income and education indicators.

Bibliography: v. 2, leaves [410]-464 / 2 v. : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Community Medicine, 1986?

Introdução: O câncer de localização colorretal é o terceiro tipo de câncer mais comumente diagnosticado no mundo. As taxas de incidências do câncer colorretal não são homogêneas, apresentando diferenças entre os países. Não há estudos brasileiros que investiguem a variação geográfica da incidência de câncer colorretal conjuntamente com indicadores socioeconômicos. Esta avaliação pode revelar diferenças locais importantes na ocorrência da doença. Objetivos: Descrever as taxas de incidência e de mortalidade do câncer colorretal no Município de São Paulo, segundo sexo e faixa etária, no período de 1997 a 2009 e realizar análise da distribuição espacial segundo distrito dos casos de câncer colorretal diagnosticados em residentes no Município de São Paulo entre 1997 e 2009. Material e Métodos: Foram analisados os novos casos de câncer colorretal diagnosticados em residentes no Município de São Paulo de 1997 a 2009. Estes dados foram fornecidos pelo Registro de Câncer de Base Populacional de São Paulo (RCBP-SP). A análise dos dados foi realizada em duas etapas: na primeira, com cárater exploratório/descritivo, os dados analíticos foram utilizados para descrever a incidência e mortalidade por câncer colorretal no período pesquisado. Na segunda etapa, os casos de câncer colorretal foram geocodificados, agrupados por distrito administrativo e estudados segundo a metodologia de análise para dados de área. Toda análise foi implementada no software R. Resultados: Com 7,7 por cento e 7,3 por cento dos casos respectivamente em homens e mulheres, câncer colorretal foi o segundo tipo de câncer mais frequente, sendo a quarta (9,0 por cento dos óbitos) e a segunda (11,0 por cento dos óbitos) causa de morte respectivamente em homens e mulheres. Do total de casos incidentes (39.250), 47,50 por cento são do sexo masculino e 52,50 por cento do sexo feminino. Destes, 4.784 (37,7 por cento ) evoluíram a óbito, sendo 48,1 por cento no sexo masculino e 51,9 por cento no sexo feminino. As taxas específicas por sexo e faixa etária de incidência aumentam fortemente com a idade, na faixa etária de 80 ou mais anos chega a 377,9 e 282,9 (por 100 mil hab.) para o sexo masculino e feminino respectivamente, sendo relativamente próximas em ambos os sexos até a idade de 49 anos e maiores para homens nas faixas etárias subsequentes. As taxas específicas por sexo e faixa etária de mortalidade, apresentam comportamento análogo, aumentam fortemente com a idade, na faixa etária de 80 ou mais anos chega a 206,9 e 159,9 (por 100 mil hab.) para o sexo masculino e feminino respectivamente. A taxa anual de incidência ajustada pela população de SEGI (1960) e modificada por DOLL et al. (1966) apresenta-se em torno de 30,0 (por 100 mil hab.) nos três primeiros anos observados (1997-1999), chega a 19,0 (por 100 mil hab.) em 2002, volta a crescer nos anos seguintes (2003-2005), chegando a 31,7 (por 100 mil hab.) e matem-se estável de 2007 a 2009. A taxa anual de mortalidade de câncer colorretal ajustada pela população crescente até 2004, chegando a 15,7 (por 100 mil hab.) e decrescem nos anos seguintes, chegando a aproximadamente 3,6 mortes por 100 mil habitantes em 2009. A média anual da taxa bruta de incidência e os indicadores socioeconômicos apresentam dependência forte dependência espacial, sendo o menor Índice I de Moran observado foi para o índice de exclusão/inclusão dos anos potenciais de vida perdidos (IEX apvp = 0,29), os demais são acima de 0,6. Os indicadores apresentam forte correlação linear com a média anual da taxa bruta de incidência. Conclusões: As distribuições da incidência e da mortalidade apresentam padrões semelhantes ao identificado mundialmente. O Município de São Paulo tem taxas equivalentes às encontradas nas regiões em transição econômica. Foi identificada forte dependência espacial na distribuição da incidência de câncer colorretal no Município de São Paulo, com a formação de clusters nas áreas centrais e periféricas. As maiores taxas são encontradas nas áreas centrais e nas periferias. A distribuição espacial da incidência de câncer colorretal apresenta forte associação com a distribuição dos indicadores de status socioeconômico no Município de São Paulo, em particular apresenta associação positiva com indicadores de renda e escolaridade. / Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most common diagnosed cancer worldwide. Colorectal cancer incidence rates are not homogeneous, with differences between countries. No Brazilian studies investigated the geographical variation of colorectal cancer incidence with socioeconomic indicators. This study may reveal important local differences in the occurrence of the disease. Objectives: To describe colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in São Paulo, by sex and age using 1997-2009 data and perform the spatial distribution analysis according to district colorectal cancer cases diagnosed in residents at Municipality of São Paulo between 1997 and 2009. Methods: Colorectal cancer cases diagnosed from 1997 to 2009 in São Paulo residents were analyzed. These data were provided by Population Based Cancer Registry of São Paulo (RCBP-SP). Data analysis was performed in two stages. First, analytical data were used to describe the incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer. Second, colorectal cancer cases were geocoded, grouped by administrative district and studied according data area analysis methodology. All analysis was implemented in software R. Results: 7.7 per cent and 7.3 per cent of observed cases was respectively in men and women, colorectal cancer was the second most common cancer, the fourth (9.0 per cent ) cause of death in men and the second (11.0 per cent ) cause in women. It was diagnosed 39,250 colorectal cancer new cases, 47.50 per cent in men and 52.50 per cent in women. And 4,784 (37.7 per cent ) died, with 48.1 per cent in male and 51.9 per cent in female. The specific incidence rates strongly increase with age, at the 80 years or more age reaches 377.9 and 282.9 (per 100,000 inhabitants) for male and female respectively. The mortality specific rates, have similar behavior, strongly increase with age and at the 80 years or more age reaches 206.9 and 159.9 (per 100,000 inhabitants), for males and female respectively. The annual age adjusted incidence rate was around 30.0 (per 100,000 inhab.) in the first observed years (1997-1999), arrives to 19.0 (per 100,000 inhab.) in 2002, grow back reaching 31.7 (per 100,000 inhab.) and kill stable from 2007 to 2009. The annual age colorectal cancer mortality rate grow reaching 15.7 (per 100,000 inhab.) and decrease in the following years, reaching approximately 3.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2009. The average annual the crude incidence rate and the socio-economic indicators show strong spatial dependence, the lowest Moran´s I Index was observed for the exclusion/inclusion potential years of life lost index (IEX apvp = 0.29). The indicators show strong linear correlation with the average annual crude incidence rate. Conclusions: Distributions of incidence and mortality have similar worldwide patterns. The Municipality of São Paulo has equivalent rates founded in regions in economic transition. It was identified strong spatial dependence in the distribution of the incidence of colorectal cancer, with the formation of clusters in the central and peripheral areas of Municipality of São Paulo. The highest rates were found in the central areas and lowest were found in the suburbs. The spatial distribution of colorectal cancer incidence has a strong association with the socioeconomic status indicators distribution in Municipality of São Paulo. It was identified positive association between colorectal cancer incidence with income and education indicators.

La nutrition est un facteur de risque modifiable pour le cancer puisqu'environ un tiers des cas pourraient être évités en adoptant une meilleure alimentation. La relation entre nutrition et cancer est complexe, et son étude est enrichie par de nouveaux défis apportés par les récentes avancées technologiques dans le domaine des « -omiques ». Cette thèse a pour but de développer de nouvelles approches biostatistiques afin d'étudier la relation entre nutrition et cancer au sein de la cohorte EPIC. Pour ce faire, l'applicabilité de nouvelles méthodologies multivariées dans le domaine de l'épidémiologie nutritionnelle a été étudiée.Une nouvelle méthode multivariée pour la réduction de la dimensionnalité, le Treelet Transform (TT), a été examinée afin d'extraire des patterns de nutriments issus de questionnaires. Les patterns ainsi obtenus par le TT étaient plus facilement interprétables que par les méthodes classiques. Ensuite, un cadre analytique pour implémenter le concept du « meeting-in-the-middle » (MITM) a été développé et appliqué dans 2 études cas-témoin nichées sur le cancer hépatocellulaire avec des données métabolomiques. Le MITM cherche à identifier des biomarqueurs qui soient à la fois des marqueurs de certaines expositions passées et des prédicteurs de maladies. L'implémentation s'est focalisée sur l'application de la PLS et de l'analyse de médiation.Enfin, nous avons examinés la relation entre les niveaux plasmatiques de 60 acides gras issus de biomarqueurs et le risque de cancer du sein dans une étude cas-témoin nichée dans EPIC.Cette thèse servira de base pour des applications épidémiologiques futures examinant la relation nutrition-cancer / Diet is a modifiable risk factor for many cancers. It has been estimated that about a third of cancer cases can be prevented by complying with a healthy diet and adhering to the recommendations in terms of nutrition. The nutrition-cancer relationship is a complex one, and its study is currently at a turning point with the opportunity and challenges brought by the recent technological advances in the fields of « -omics ».This thesis aims to develop new biostatistical approaches to investigate the nutrition-cancer relation within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition (EPIC) study. To do so, the applicability of new methodologies in the field of nutritional epidemiology has been examined.First, a new multivariate dimension reduction method, the Treelet Transform (TT) was applied to extract nutrient patterns relying on questionnaire data. The extracted patterns were more easily interpretable than those obtained with more classical methods.Then, an analytical framework was conceived for the « meeting-in-the-middle » (MITM) principle and applied to two nested case-control studies on hepatocellular carcinoma, with targeted and untargeted metabolomics data. The MITM aims to identify overlap biomarkers of certain exposures that are at the same time predictive of disease outcomes. The implementation focused on the application of partial least squares and mediation analyses. Last, the association between 60 plasma fatty acids levels assessed from biomarkers and breast cancer risk was examined in a nested case-control study in EPIC. This thesis will serve as a basis for future epidemiological applications looking into the nutrition-cancer relation

Song, Qingkun. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-157). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

by Kai-Hang Choi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-232). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGMENT --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.viii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xiii / Chapter CHAPTER I --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Role of GIS in Health Studies --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research Objectives --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.6 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Human cancer --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3 --- Environment and Cancer --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4 --- Cancer Etiology and Epidemiology --- p.13 / Chapter 2.5 --- Observational Cancer Epidemiology --- p.15 / Chapter 2.6 --- Geography of Cancer --- p.17 / Chapter 2.7 --- Geographical Epidemiology of Cancer --- p.19 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Geographical Variation in Cancer Occurrence --- p.21 / Chapter 2.7.1.1 --- Cancer Mapping --- p.24 / Chapter 2.7.1.2 --- Spatial Autocorrelation --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Identifying Causal Association --- p.29 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- Environmental Factors of Cancer --- p.31 / Chapter 2.8 --- Geographical Information Systems --- p.40 / Chapter 2.9 --- GIS and Health --- p.41 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- GIS Applications in Health Planning --- p.42 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- GIS Applications in Health Research --- p.43 / Chapter 2.10 --- Cancer Studies with GIS --- p.45 / Chapter 2.11 --- Conclusion --- p.47 / Chapter CHAPTER III --- THE STUDY AREA AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- Disease Transition in Hong Kong --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Cancer in Contemporary Hong Kong --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Trends of Cancer Mortality and Incidence --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- The Common Types of Cancer --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Geographical Variation of Cancer in Hong Kong --- p.58 / Chapter 3.4 --- The Research --- p.61 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Cartographic Analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Statistical Analyses --- p.63 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Cancer Variables --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Environmental Variables --- p.70 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusion --- p.71 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- DATABASE CONSTRUCTION --- p.73 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2 --- Data Collection --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Base Maps --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Cancer Data --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Socio-demographic Data --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Air Pollution --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- ELF EMFs --- p.77 / Chapter 4.3 --- Data Input --- p.77 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Spatial Data --- p.77 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Base Maps --- p.78 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Point Data --- p.78 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Line Data --- p.79 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Attribute Data --- p.79 / Chapter 4.4 --- Data Editing and Conversions --- p.80 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Spatial Data --- p.80 / Chapter 4.4.1.1 --- Standard Coverage Editing Procedures --- p.80 / Chapter 4.4.1.2 --- Specific Coverage Editing Procedures --- p.81 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Attribute Data --- p.83 / Chapter 4.4.2.1 --- Cancer Rates --- p.83 / Chapter 4.4.2.2 --- Socio-economic Status --- p.85 / Chapter 4.5 --- Data Pre-processing and Manipulation --- p.86 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Socio-economic Variables --- p.86 / Chapter 4.5.1.1 --- Interpretation of Factor Scores --- p.97 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Compromised Traffic Index --- p.99 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- ELFEMFs --- p.104 / Chapter 4.6 --- Conclusion --- p.106 / Chapter CHAPTER V --- RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS --- p.111 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2 --- Geographical Analysis of Cancer Patterns --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Results --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Total Cancer --- p.113 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- Cancer of the Female Breast --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.1.3 --- Cancer of the Cervix Uteri (Cervical Cancer) --- p.121 / Chapter 5.2.1.4 --- Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (Colorectal Cancer) --- p.124 / Chapter 5.2.1.5 --- Cancer of the Stomach (Gastric Cancer) --- p.129 / Chapter 5.2.1.6 --- Leukaemia --- p.129 / Chapter 5.2.1.7 --- Cancer of the Liver --- p.134 / Chapter 5.2.1.8 --- Cancer of the Lung --- p.143 / Chapter 5.2.1.9 --- Cancer of the Nasopharynx (NPC) --- p.149 / Chapter 5.2.1.10 --- Cancer of the Oesophagus --- p.154 / Chapter 5.3 --- Correlation among Cancer Variables --- p.160 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Correlation among Cancer types --- p.160 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Temporal Correlation among Cancers --- p.168 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Correlation between Cancer Mortality and Incidence --- p.170 / Chapter 5.4 --- Correlation between Cancer and Environmental Variables --- p.172 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Results --- p.174 / Chapter 5.5 --- Weighted Stepwise Regression Modeling --- p.182 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Results --- p.183 / Chapter 5.5.1.1 --- Total Cancer --- p.184 / Chapter 5.5.1.2 --- Cancer of the Female Breast --- p.186 / Chapter 5.5.1.3 --- Cancer of the Cervix Uteri (Cervical Cancer) --- p.188 / Chapter 5.5.1.4 --- Cancer of the Colon and Rectum --- p.189 / Chapter 5.5.1.5 --- Cancer of the Stomach (Gastric Cancer) --- p.191 / Chapter 5.5.1.6 --- Leukaemia --- p.193 / Chapter 5.5.1.7 --- Cancer of the Liver --- p.195 / Chapter 5.5.1.8 --- Cancer of the Lung --- p.197 / Chapter 5.5.1.9 --- Cancer of the Nasopharynx (NPC) --- p.199 / Chapter 5.5.1.10 --- Cancer of the Oesophagus --- p.201 / Chapter 5.6 --- Interpretations of Results --- p.203 / Chapter CHAPTER VI --- CONCLUSION --- p.207 / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary of Findings --- p.207 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Summary on Geographical Analysis of Cancer Patterns --- p.207 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Summary on Statistical Analysis of Cancer Variables --- p.209 / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Summary on Associations between Cancers and Environment --- p.211 / Chapter 6.2 --- Research Limitations --- p.212 / Chapter 6.3 --- Implications for Future Studies --- p.215 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.217 / APPENDICES --- p.233 / Appendix I Community Map of hong Kong --- p.234 / Appendix II List of Communities and their Components --- p.236 / Appendix III Tertiary Planning Units (TPUs) - Community Conversion Lists --- p.240 / Appendix IV BASIC Program for Calculating Moran and Geary Indices --- p.244