Virus Spreading: High Hepatitis C, Liver Cancer Rate In Borough Population

[Guest guest]

http://www.queenstribune.com/feature/Feature_052010.html

Virus Spreading:

High Hepatitis C, Liver Cancer Rate In Borough Population

By ph Orovic

During a “State of the Hospital” presentation at New York Hospital Queens,

Director of Surgical Oncology Dr. Chorost subtly revealed a

little-known reality within the borough.

“We’re seeing an unusually high rate of liver cancer as a result of Hepatitis

C,” he said, citing ethnic factors as the main driving force behind the spike.

“A lot of people don’t realize that the problem is out there.”

Chorost’s findings, coupled with the 15th Anniversary of Hepatitis Awareness

Month this May, bring a new urgency to raising awareness about this communicable

and deadly, yet treatable, disease.

Nearly 80 percent of all untreated cases of Hepatitis C are believed to lead to

liver cancer, according to the State Dept. of Health. The cancer itself causes

10,000 deaths nationwide each year.

Cultural Concerns

According to Chorost, a growing population of first-generation Asian and Russian

immigrants has driven an increase in the overall rate of Hepatitis C and liver

cancer.

“These cultures are very close people,” he said. “They assimilate with each

other and that’s how they spread these diseases within each other.”

It is a byproduct of a growing rate in their native countries, the doctor added.

“There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C. It’s a worldwide epidemic, effecting

namely Far East countries like China and Korea,” he said. “These are patients

who weren’t aware they had it in China and Russia and they came with it. They’re

carriers.”

Cancer By The Numbers

On a state-wide level, liver cancer has an occurrence rate of about 7 per

100,000, according to the CDC. Our borough dwarfs those figures.

By nearly every available measure, Queens has a higher rate. Nearly 14 of every

100,000 Queens men have liver cancer, and 4.5 among females.

When broken down, the rate per 100,000 residents doubles among Asian and Pacific

Islanders.

From 2003 to 2007, the rate of liver cancer among male Asian and Pacific

Islanders was nearly double the statewide level, at 24.1 per 100,000, according

to State Dept. of Health statistics.

The numbers are highly prevalent in neighborhoods with a high Asian population.

Flushing leads the borough with a rate of 19.1 per 100,000.

Side Effects

The deceptive symptoms and low profile of Hepatitis C leads to a higher rate of

liver cancer.

With fairly common symptoms such as nausea, fever and fatigue, it remains easy

to overlook the possibility of infection. It has led many cases to go untreated,

according to Chorost, and put an additional burden on NYHQ.

Simply put: They need more livers.

“The need for liver transplantation far exceeds the amount available,” Chorost

said.

Even with newer methods such as partial liver donations, the hospital is falling

short of demand among patients in need of a liver transplant.

Reason For Hope

In spite of the figures, Chorost said Hepatitis C is very treatable when caught

early.

“Pamela has Hepatitis C and she’s doing really well,” he said.

Reach Reporter ph Orovic at jorovic@..., or (718) 357-7400,

Ext. 127.

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[Guest guest]

http://www.queenstribune.com/feature/Feature_052010.html

Virus Spreading:

High Hepatitis C, Liver Cancer Rate In Borough Population

By ph Orovic

During a “State of the Hospital” presentation at New York Hospital Queens,

Director of Surgical Oncology Dr. Chorost subtly revealed a

little-known reality within the borough.

“We’re seeing an unusually high rate of liver cancer as a result of Hepatitis

C,” he said, citing ethnic factors as the main driving force behind the spike.

“A lot of people don’t realize that the problem is out there.”

Chorost’s findings, coupled with the 15th Anniversary of Hepatitis Awareness

Month this May, bring a new urgency to raising awareness about this communicable

and deadly, yet treatable, disease.

Nearly 80 percent of all untreated cases of Hepatitis C are believed to lead to

liver cancer, according to the State Dept. of Health. The cancer itself causes

10,000 deaths nationwide each year.

Cultural Concerns

According to Chorost, a growing population of first-generation Asian and Russian

immigrants has driven an increase in the overall rate of Hepatitis C and liver

cancer.

“These cultures are very close people,” he said. “They assimilate with each

other and that’s how they spread these diseases within each other.”

It is a byproduct of a growing rate in their native countries, the doctor added.

“There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C. It’s a worldwide epidemic, effecting

namely Far East countries like China and Korea,” he said. “These are patients

who weren’t aware they had it in China and Russia and they came with it. They’re

carriers.”

Cancer By The Numbers

On a state-wide level, liver cancer has an occurrence rate of about 7 per

100,000, according to the CDC. Our borough dwarfs those figures.

By nearly every available measure, Queens has a higher rate. Nearly 14 of every

100,000 Queens men have liver cancer, and 4.5 among females.

When broken down, the rate per 100,000 residents doubles among Asian and Pacific

Islanders.

From 2003 to 2007, the rate of liver cancer among male Asian and Pacific

Islanders was nearly double the statewide level, at 24.1 per 100,000, according

to State Dept. of Health statistics.

The numbers are highly prevalent in neighborhoods with a high Asian population.

Flushing leads the borough with a rate of 19.1 per 100,000.

Side Effects

The deceptive symptoms and low profile of Hepatitis C leads to a higher rate of

liver cancer.

With fairly common symptoms such as nausea, fever and fatigue, it remains easy

to overlook the possibility of infection. It has led many cases to go untreated,

according to Chorost, and put an additional burden on NYHQ.

Simply put: They need more livers.

“The need for liver transplantation far exceeds the amount available,” Chorost

said.

Even with newer methods such as partial liver donations, the hospital is falling

short of demand among patients in need of a liver transplant.

Reason For Hope

In spite of the figures, Chorost said Hepatitis C is very treatable when caught

early.

“Pamela has Hepatitis C and she’s doing really well,” he said.

Reach Reporter ph Orovic at jorovic@..., or (718) 357-7400,

Ext. 127.

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

http://www.queenstribune.com/feature/Feature_052010.html

Virus Spreading:

High Hepatitis C, Liver Cancer Rate In Borough Population

By ph Orovic

During a “State of the Hospital” presentation at New York Hospital Queens,

Director of Surgical Oncology Dr. Chorost subtly revealed a

little-known reality within the borough.

“We’re seeing an unusually high rate of liver cancer as a result of Hepatitis

C,” he said, citing ethnic factors as the main driving force behind the spike.

“A lot of people don’t realize that the problem is out there.”

Chorost’s findings, coupled with the 15th Anniversary of Hepatitis Awareness

Month this May, bring a new urgency to raising awareness about this communicable

and deadly, yet treatable, disease.

Nearly 80 percent of all untreated cases of Hepatitis C are believed to lead to

liver cancer, according to the State Dept. of Health. The cancer itself causes

10,000 deaths nationwide each year.

Cultural Concerns

According to Chorost, a growing population of first-generation Asian and Russian

immigrants has driven an increase in the overall rate of Hepatitis C and liver

cancer.

“These cultures are very close people,” he said. “They assimilate with each

other and that’s how they spread these diseases within each other.”

It is a byproduct of a growing rate in their native countries, the doctor added.

“There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C. It’s a worldwide epidemic, effecting

namely Far East countries like China and Korea,” he said. “These are patients

who weren’t aware they had it in China and Russia and they came with it. They’re

carriers.”

Cancer By The Numbers

On a state-wide level, liver cancer has an occurrence rate of about 7 per

100,000, according to the CDC. Our borough dwarfs those figures.

By nearly every available measure, Queens has a higher rate. Nearly 14 of every

100,000 Queens men have liver cancer, and 4.5 among females.

When broken down, the rate per 100,000 residents doubles among Asian and Pacific

Islanders.

From 2003 to 2007, the rate of liver cancer among male Asian and Pacific

Islanders was nearly double the statewide level, at 24.1 per 100,000, according

to State Dept. of Health statistics.

The numbers are highly prevalent in neighborhoods with a high Asian population.

Flushing leads the borough with a rate of 19.1 per 100,000.

Side Effects

The deceptive symptoms and low profile of Hepatitis C leads to a higher rate of

liver cancer.

With fairly common symptoms such as nausea, fever and fatigue, it remains easy

to overlook the possibility of infection. It has led many cases to go untreated,

according to Chorost, and put an additional burden on NYHQ.

Simply put: They need more livers.

“The need for liver transplantation far exceeds the amount available,” Chorost

said.

Even with newer methods such as partial liver donations, the hospital is falling

short of demand among patients in need of a liver transplant.

Reason For Hope

In spite of the figures, Chorost said Hepatitis C is very treatable when caught

early.

“Pamela has Hepatitis C and she’s doing really well,” he said.

Reach Reporter ph Orovic at jorovic@..., or (718) 357-7400,

Ext. 127.

_________________________________________________________________

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http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en\

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[Guest guest]

http://www.queenstribune.com/feature/Feature_052010.html

Virus Spreading:

High Hepatitis C, Liver Cancer Rate In Borough Population

By ph Orovic

During a “State of the Hospital” presentation at New York Hospital Queens,

Director of Surgical Oncology Dr. Chorost subtly revealed a

little-known reality within the borough.

“We’re seeing an unusually high rate of liver cancer as a result of Hepatitis

C,” he said, citing ethnic factors as the main driving force behind the spike.

“A lot of people don’t realize that the problem is out there.”

Chorost’s findings, coupled with the 15th Anniversary of Hepatitis Awareness

Month this May, bring a new urgency to raising awareness about this communicable

and deadly, yet treatable, disease.

Nearly 80 percent of all untreated cases of Hepatitis C are believed to lead to

liver cancer, according to the State Dept. of Health. The cancer itself causes

10,000 deaths nationwide each year.

Cultural Concerns

According to Chorost, a growing population of first-generation Asian and Russian

immigrants has driven an increase in the overall rate of Hepatitis C and liver

cancer.

“These cultures are very close people,” he said. “They assimilate with each

other and that’s how they spread these diseases within each other.”

It is a byproduct of a growing rate in their native countries, the doctor added.

“There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C. It’s a worldwide epidemic, effecting

namely Far East countries like China and Korea,” he said. “These are patients

who weren’t aware they had it in China and Russia and they came with it. They’re

carriers.”

Cancer By The Numbers

On a state-wide level, liver cancer has an occurrence rate of about 7 per

100,000, according to the CDC. Our borough dwarfs those figures.

By nearly every available measure, Queens has a higher rate. Nearly 14 of every

100,000 Queens men have liver cancer, and 4.5 among females.

When broken down, the rate per 100,000 residents doubles among Asian and Pacific

Islanders.

From 2003 to 2007, the rate of liver cancer among male Asian and Pacific

Islanders was nearly double the statewide level, at 24.1 per 100,000, according

to State Dept. of Health statistics.

The numbers are highly prevalent in neighborhoods with a high Asian population.

Flushing leads the borough with a rate of 19.1 per 100,000.

Side Effects

The deceptive symptoms and low profile of Hepatitis C leads to a higher rate of

liver cancer.

With fairly common symptoms such as nausea, fever and fatigue, it remains easy

to overlook the possibility of infection. It has led many cases to go untreated,

according to Chorost, and put an additional burden on NYHQ.

Simply put: They need more livers.

“The need for liver transplantation far exceeds the amount available,” Chorost

said.

Even with newer methods such as partial liver donations, the hospital is falling

short of demand among patients in need of a liver transplant.

Reason For Hope

In spite of the figures, Chorost said Hepatitis C is very treatable when caught

early.

“Pamela has Hepatitis C and she’s doing really well,” he said.

Reach Reporter ph Orovic at jorovic@..., or (718) 357-7400,

Ext. 127.

_________________________________________________________________

Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox.

http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en\

-US:WM_HMP:042010_1