Date: March 24, 2006 (Friday)
Time: 12:30 - 14:00 (sandwich lunch from 12:30 - 12:45; seminar begins at 12:45)
Venue: Seminar Room 6, LG/F, Laboratory Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Abstract:
Much of what is known about cancers and their causes has come from a study of epidemiology. Lifestyle and environment have provided clues to possible related factors, which have enabled research to be carried out and risk reduction action to be implemented wherever possible.

Some risk factors are clearly associated with modern life, but some were in existence in the ancient world. Taking ancient Egypt as an example, of the relatively few tumours that have been found, many are still unidentified for a number of reasons. One problem is that most are tumours on bones and could either be primary tumours or metastases from cancers of internal organs. This seminar discusses which tumours are most likely to have been present during that period, taking into account the expectation of life, which was thought to be about 36 years, together with lifestyle and environmental factors. For example, nasopharyngeal cancers were frequent due to the frequent consumption of salt fish and exposure to household smoke; bladder cancer due to Schistosoma (Bilharzia) infection; liver cancer caused by aflatoxins in grain infected by Aspergillus flavus: cancers of the uterine cervix due to early sexual activity; and bone cancers. All these cancers are common in younger people and all are still prevalent in Egypt, Africa and parts of Asia today.

What is known about epidemiology now could provide new clues to the nature of cancers in the ancient world and, coupled with new histological techniques, could enable identification to be made of many tumours that have long been mysteries.

Bio-sketch:
Professor A Charlton obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Geology at the University of Keele, England, and the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Education at the University of Manchester. She is a trained teacher, having obtained the Post-Graduate Certificate in Education at Homerton College, Cambridge.

Having taught for a few years in secondary school, she was appointed to the Manchester Regional Committee for Cancer Education, funded by the Cancer Research Campaign (now Cancer Research UK) to research ways in which young people might be taught about cancer. This involved reducing fear, encouraging risk-reduction and helping child cancer patients. It was at this stage that her research on children and smoking and her interest in tumours in the ancient world began.

In 1980, she became a Life Fellow of the Cancer Research Campaign and Director of the CRC Education and Child Studies Research Group, which she directed until her retirement. In 1994, she was appointed Professor of Cancer Health Education in the Department of Epidemiology and Health Sciences in the University of Manchester Medical School and on her retirement was awarded the title of Professor Emerita.

In the course of her work, Professor Charlton has been deeply involved in voluntary work for the International Union Against Cancer that has taken her to many countries, to collaborate with local doctors, researchers, scientists and teachers. It is in this context that her knowledge of epidemiology worldwide has developed.

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