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An Unusual Site for Cancer Prevention, Sept. 7, 2008
About 20 persons were present at the Asian Pacific Health Center outreach activities at Van Phuoc (Ten-thousand blessings) Pagoda in San Diego on September 7, 2008.
In the introduction, Rev. Phuoc Niem thanked the health professionals for taking care of the congregation’s physical health, while he takes charge of their spiritual health.
Dr Binh Tran spoke on breast cancer in the Asian communities, stressing the need to get mammograms at age 40 years and above. She also discussed on the enrollment of eligible patients in the State Cancer Detection Program. Dr Ton Tran presented on colorectal cancer, focusing on the prevalence of the disease in the Asian population and the utmost importance of early detection, which will save lives in 90% of cases. He also described different screening methods, specially the advantages of colonoscopy. The future of Virtual Colonoscopy (CT colonography) was also touched upon. Slides in Vietnamese were projected on the screen, and the contents in English shown on a lap-top and as hand-outs to the students.
Many questions arose from the audience regarding the breast masses and rectal bleeding related to cancer. Is there any benefit to the yearly fasting periods which can last up to a month or longer? Information is needed on lactose intolerance, and the long-term effects of constipation due to the rigorous studying conditions during religious training.
After a light vegetarian lunch with refreshing dessert, some members tried out ping-pong strokes with the Rev., then the students left in the same van. They had an occasion to learn about breast and colorectal early prevention, and gain contact with the Asian population. The preceptors received from a student the invitation to present the topics to a different community, and from the site, the request to speak on other health issues in the near future.
Present at the outreach:
Van Phuoc Pagoda
Rev Phuoc Niem Thich
Thuy Tran
Be Truong
Hai Nguyen
Bach Tuyet Tong
Bich Lien Do
Thanh Tam Nguyen
Minh Nguyen Chau
Muoi Pham
Giang Huong Nguyen
UCSD School of Medicine
Ton Tran, MD, Clinical Instructor
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binh Tran, PharmD, Assistant Clinical Professor
Student pharmacists:
Yolanda Dickey
Thanh Le
Chetan Sharma
Yangnae Cho
Timothy Bassell
Rukhsana Siddiqi
Asian Pacific Health Center
My Le, Intern
Reported by
Binh N. Tran, PharmD
Executive Director
Asian Pacific Health Center
