Canadians Say British Columbia Often Ignores Asbestos Safety

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Proponents of a ban on asbestos, as well as individuals simply concerned about public safety, say that British Columbia’s Work-SafeBC isn’t being tough enough on repeat offenders who are consistently charged with violations of asbestos handling laws.
An article in the Vancouver Sun points out that in the last three years, the agency has issued nearly 2,500 orders against construction companies that violate regulations that are put in place to protect their employees (and others) from asbestos exposure. Data shows that 59 penalties and nearly a half-million dollars in fines were imposed on the law-breakers, yet repeat offenses continue. That’s because, many say, the province – beyond warnings and fines - just isn’t tough enough on those who break the rules.

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Cancers ORL : les grands principes thérapeutiques

Key points

Upper aerodigestive tract carcinoma:
therapeutic management
Cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract cover the solid tumors of
the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx.
The principal risk factors identified are smoking and alcohol.
Moreover, the combination of alcohol and smoking increases the
relative risk by more than simple multiplication.
The pretreatment work-up represents the starting point in the
natural history of the patient’s disease and conditions recovery and
time course; it must be both specific and exhaustive. It leads to a
TNM classification or staging that is a major prognostic factor and
essential to determination of the appropriate therapy.
Patients with cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract must receive
cooperative multidisciplinary treatment.
Conservative treatment strategies must be favored. Treatment is
essentially surgical and radiological.
Prognosis for survival is poor. For all stages and sites together,
5-year survival remains between 30 and 40%.

Points essentiels

Les cancers ORL ou des voies aérodigestives supérieures regrou-
pent les tumeurs solides de la cavité buccale, du pharynx et du larynx.
Les principaux facteurs de risques identifiés sont le tabac et l’alcool.
De plus, l’association alcool-tabac “surmultiplie” le risque relatif.
Le bilan préthérapeutique représente le point de départ dans
l’histoire de la maladie d’un patient, il va conditionner sa guérison
ou son évolution, il se doit d’être précis et exhaustif. Il aboutit à une
classification TNM qui est un facteur pronostique majeur et la clef de
voûte des indications thérapeutiques.
La prise en charge des patients atteints de cancers ORL doit faire
l’objet d’une concertation thérapeutique pluridisciplinaire.
Les stratégies thérapeutiques conservatrices doivent être privilé-
giées. Le traitement est essentiellement radiochirurgical.
Le pronostic de survie est mauvais. Pour tous stades et localisa-
tions confondus, la survie reste en moyenne entre 30 et 40 % à
5 ans.

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