With regard to the methods of early diaqnosis and medical

treatment of cancer, The National Cancer Institute recently has
reported major gains in survival.

Specifically, leukemia and

breast cancer are among those cancer sites which show the greater
gains in Survival

following therapy.

In light of these facts and because cancer is the leading
cause of death amongst the Marshallese,

the health care plan for

the Marshall Islands must include an intensive cancer control
program.

This cancer control program should include, as a minimum,

the following elements:
1.

A Cancer Recistry.

Current estimates of morbidity and

mortality in the Marshall Islands come primarily from
hospital discharge and clinic sick call data.

Efforts

should be made to ensure complete reporting of all cancers.

Only by such a registry system can the full

extent of cancer incidence and cancer control be fully
evaluated.
2.

Cancer Screening.

This element should be directed

toward the early diagnosis of radiation related cancer,
i.e. breast, lung, lymohatic and thyroid cancer, as well
as

leukemia.

In addition, the health care proposal must include a program
of genetic screening.

This should entail studies involving large

scale genetic analysis of the Marshallese and also more diversified,
specific studies of those exposed to radiation.

Results from both

of these efforts would contribute significantly to the interpretation

Select target paragraph3