On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News…

Message from Victoria....


Dear Supporters and Friends

Wishing you all a scrumptious Festive Season and much joy in the New Year from us all (left to right Henry, Victoria, Habeeb, Asini and Laura). It has been another wonderful year with so much to thank you all for. I am so lucky to have the most dedicated, hard working staff, all of whom have a great sense of humour and the most supportive Trustees. A big thank you also to all of you who came through our doors to enjoy our services. Every one of you have had the most positive effect on us all and have inspired us to do more to make Cancerkin an even more inviting sanctuary in 2011. I look forward to returning in the New Year to work with you all and continue to grow Cancerkin.

With my very best wishes

Victoria

Art Classes

Cancerkin is pleased to welcome Milena Petrova who will be conducting 4 introductory art workshops in January next year. These workshops aim to be a liberating experience for patients where they can discover the freedom to explore their creativity. The workshops will be held on Tuesdays at 11am-12.45pm on 18th January, 25th January, 1st February and 8th February. No previous art experience is necessary.

If you would like to book a place at the workshops or require additional information, please contact our office manager, Habeeb on 020 7830 2323 or at h.ahmed@cancerkin.org.uk.

Finally, please note that the Cancerkin Centre is closed from Friday 24th December to Monday 3rd January inclusive.

In the news…

Radiotherapy effective for women with DCIS…

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. It occurs when cells in the ducts of the breast have become cancerous but do not spread to the surrounding breast tissue or to other parts of the body. The survival rate of this kind of breast cancer following treatment is high at around 98 percent but the risk of DCIS recurrence, development of an invasive breast cancer, or development of a new cancer in the other breast remains. A new study, known as the UK, Australia and New Zealand (UK/ANZ) DCIS trial, has found that the use of radiotherapy after surgery may significantly reduce the risk of developing invasive breast cancer for such women. The study furthermore found that tamoxifen after surgery may protect against the risk of breast cancer development in the other breast.

The study recruited 1,710 women between 1990 and 1998 and followed their progress over a long period of time. In terms of radiotherapy after surgery, the study’s most recent results found that the risk of new invasive breast cancer in the same breast fell by 70 percent, the risk of DCIS returning fell by 60 percent, but the risk of developing a new cancer in the opposite breast was unaltered. Meanwhile, tamoxifen did not affect the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the same breast as the original DCIS, but did reduce the risk of DCIS recurrence by 30 percent and the risk of a cancer developing in the other breast by 65 percent. However, it seemed that women who received treatment by tamoxifen in addition to radiotherapy did not gain further benefits.

Kate Law, Cancer Research UK's director of clinical research, said of the study’s latest findings: "These important trial results prove that a small but significant number of women may benefit from radiotherapy after surgery to reduce the risk of their DCIS coming back or developing into invasive cancer. Modern radiotherapy is a cornerstone of today's cancer treatment and in fact helps cure more people of the disease than cancer drugs.”

To read more about the study, please click here..


Victoria Todd & the Cancerkin Team

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News…

Season’s greetings…

I have been working on our weekly editions of On the Pulse now for almost three months and would like to take this chance to thank you for the all the positive feedback I have so far received. It is encouraging to hear that so many of you enjoy reading our newsletter and your comments and suggestions are always gratefully received. If you would like to get in touch, you can contact me at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk. As I will be away next week, I will be leaving On the pulse in the trusted hands of the Cancerkin team until I return on 4th January. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Tombola extravaganza…

As you will know, we held our annual Christmas Tombola at the Royal Free last Friday. The event was a huge success and exceeded all expectations, as, with the help of Cancerkin’s fabulous team of volunteers, we were able to more than meet our target. Hundreds of patients and staff from around the hospital took part, along with many of Cancerkin’s supporter, with over 100 lucky winners taking home a prize.

We would like to say a big thank you to those who volunteered to help out on the stall and collected money – we could not have done it without you. A huge thank you also to all those who donated prizes to Cancerkin – without such generosity the event would not have been such a hit. Thank you all!


In the news…


New discovery in breast cancer genetics…

Of the 45,700 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year, 30,000 will have hormone-sensitive breast cancers. Scientists at Cancer Research UK have recently made important developments in the understanding of this type of breast cancer, having identified a single gene, known as FOXA1, which controls the growth of breast cancer cells fuelled by the hormone oestrogen.

The research used a technique called ChIP-sequencing to reveal FOXA1 to be the gene that allows oestrogen receptors to interact with the DNA inside breast cancer cell. This in turn switches on the genes that stimulate unchecked cell growth. In breast cancer cells lacking the FOXA1, these genes were not activated.

The discovery of the FOXA1 gene may have important implications for women with ER positive breast cancer and who do not respond to the hormone treatment Tamoxifen. The drug is one of the most effective treatments for oestrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer and works by blocking the oestrogen receptors in some, but not all, breast cancer cells. Around a third of those who take the drug will not respond to it or will develop a resistance to it over time. Lead author Dr Jason Carroll said of the discovery: “this is exciting because it suggests that developing drugs to block FOXA1 could provide an effective treatment for women with ER positive breast cancers who have become resistant to standard hormone treatments, like tamoxifen.” Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: “We know that some women with breast cancer stop responding to tamoxifen, making them more prone to relapsing. This important discovery could one day lead to new drugs that help improve the outcome for these patients.”

To read more about this fascinating research, please click here.


Laura Smith 17th December 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….

Christmas Tombola this Friday…

The final preparations for our Tombola are now being made ready for this Friday, 10th December. We have had a fantastic response to our appeal for volunteers and donations, with now over a hundred prizes to be won. These range from meals out and cinema tickets to cosmetics and Belgian chocolates. We will also be selling Cancerkin Christmas cards, make-up, books and more. We hope to see as many of you as possible at the stall, which will be open from 10am to 4pm by the Atrium at the Royal Free.

Yoga and Dance classes reminder …

All those who are interested in attending our final trial session of Kundalini yoga and Nia technique dance should note that the Yoga class will take place at 11am with Dance Therapy following at 12pm on Monday 13th December 2010.

Kundalini yoga is a powerful practice where your body is gently stretched and toned, inducing deep relaxation and including postures and meditations specifically for women. The Nia Technique is an expressive, dance-based movement form that is an exhilarating treat for body, mind and soul. Absolutely no experience is necessary and all those who have attended so far have very much enjoyed the classes. To reserve your place, please email Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 020 7830 2323.

In the news…

Cancer, food, drink and smoking

For many years now, it has been a widely accepted notion that eating your ‘five-a-day’ fruit and veg will help ward off cancer. The idea of “cancer-fighting” fruit and vegetables has been developing since the 1970’s, when early studies into the food group yielded positive results. However, a review of research conducted over the past decade into the effects of eating increased amounts of fruit and vegetables has concluded that such a diet will have little impact on cancer risk. It is not eating more fruit and veg, but cutting down on alcohol and smoking that will really help to reduce overall risk, the review has concluded.

Professor Tim Key, of Cancer Research UK, reviewed evidence found by large, high-quality studies know as “cohort-studies,” involving more than a million people collectively. These studies ask a wide range of healthy individuals to record their diets over a long period of time and analyse which individuals go on to develop cancer, rather than examining the diet of those who already have cancer, as in much earlier “case-control studies”. Prof Key focused on four recent major studies into the impact of fruit and vegetables on overall risk, as well as reviewing evidence about mouth, throat, stomach, bowel, lung, prostate and breast cancer risk. Results pointed to little or no impact on the risk of developing these types of cancer. Prof Key also highlighted that, after smoking, the two biggest cancer risks were being overweight and drinking alcohol.

Although the review may change our opinions towards what were previously considered as “cancer-fighting” foods, it should not change our attitude towards eating fruit and veg. They do of course contain nutrients needed for good health, can help us to maintain a healthy weight and can play an important role in protecting against high blood pressure and coronary disease. What Prof. Key’s review emphasises is that healthy living – that is decreasing alcohol intake, not smoking and eating adequate amounts of fruit and vegetable as part of a balanced diet – is what is most important in the fight against cancer.

For more on this subject, please click here to read an article from The Guardian, and here to read Cancer Research UK’s science blog.

Drug developments for postmenopausal women…

A new trial into anastrozole, a drug given to postmenopausal women with hormone sensitive early breast cancer, has confirmed its long-term benefits for helping stop breast cancer reoccurrence or development of cancer in the other breast. Led by Professor Jack Cuzick of Cancer Research UK at Queen Mary, University of London, the study examined over 9,000 women in 21 countries, including the UK. Each woman took either anastrozole or tamoxifen as an adjuvant treatment after surgery, to help stop their cancer coming back. Both drugs were highly effective but over a ten year period, 80 percent of patients taking anastrozole remained free of cancer, compared with 76 percent taking tamoxifen.

Anastrozole belongs to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. Earlier trials into the drugs revealed them to be the best treatment for preventing breast cancer recurrences in post-menopausal women and, in 2009 they replaced tamoxifen as the gold standard hormone treatment. Professor Cuzick said of the latest study’s results: “tamoxifen has been in use for at least 25 years and remains one of the most effective breast cancer treatments ever developed. But these results provide further support for using anastrozole as the first line treatment for postmenopausal women with hormone sensitive breast cancer, as it’s even more likely to stop the disease coming back and was better tolerated than tamoxifen.”

If you would like to read the article in full, please click here.

Laura Smith 9^th December 2010

l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse
Cancerkin’s News….

Inaugural Cancerkin Annual Lecture – a date for your diary!

On 28th February 2011, Cancerkin will have the honour of welcoming Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for Cancer at the Department of Health and UK cancer Tsar, to speak at our inaugural annual lecture in the Atrium at the Royal Free.

Appointed in October 1999, Prof Sir Richards led the development of the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000, the first comprehensive strategy to tackle cancer in England and since then has been responsible for overseeing its implementation. During 2007 he led the development of the Cancer Reform Strategy. He is also leading the development of the End of Life Care Strategy, due for publication in summer 2008.

Christmas is coming…

Our annual Christmas Tombola, on 10th December 2010 from 10am to 4pm at the Royal Free Hospital, is now just days away and we are hoping this year’s stall will be a big success. We are currently still looking for willing volunteers to help out on the day, so if you would like to get involved by working with the team or collecting money around the hospital, we would love to hear from you. Please email Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 020 7830 2323.

Change in schedule for Yoga and Dance…

All those who are interested in attending our trial sessions of Kundalini yoga and Nia technique dance therapy should note that classes in Yoga will now take place at 11am with Dance Therapy classes following at 12pm. The remaining sessions will take place on 6th December and 13th December 2010.

Kundalini yoga is a powerful practice where your body is gently stretched and toned, inducing deep relaxation and including postures and meditations specifically for women. The Nia Technique is an expressive, dance-based movement form that is an exhilarating treat for body, mind and soul. Absolutely no experience is necessary and everybody is warmly welcome. To reserve your place, please email Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 020 7830 2323.


In the news…

Annual mammograms for all women under 40?

In its previous two editions, On the pulse reported on a study into mammograms for the small group of women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer and who are under the age of 40. This week, following results from a separate preliminary study into the affect annual screening can have on mastectomy rates, much has been written in the press arguing in favour of yearly mammograms for all women in this age group, regardless of their respective risk of breast cancer.

Researchers examined 156 patients in this age bracket who were treated for breast cancer at the private clinic London Breast Institute from 2003 to 2009. Of those who had been screened within one year, 19 percent had a mastectomy. 46 percent of those who did not have a mammogram went on to have the surgery. According to the study’s author, Dr. Nicholas Perry, more breast-sparing surgery was possible for those who had been screened, as mammograms can allow tumours to be detected at an earlier stage when they are less likely to have spread. Smaller tumours may be treated with a lumpectomy, meaning the breast can be spared. Annual screening could therefore reduce the number of mastectomies in the UK by 30%, Dr Perry estimates.

As we know, women between the ages of 50 and 70 are currently offered screening every three years in the UK but there is much discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of earlier screening. "It's always a very hot issue," Dr Perry said. "People are vehemently opposed and vehemently in support [of earlier screenings]. But just at the moment, the data is coming in that would support it." It must be noted that this study did not look at impact on survival rates in women below 50, but Dr. Perry added that earlier screening and therefore earlier detection could mean a better prognosis and longer-term survival rate. "Young women, you could argue very strongly, have the most to gain from earlier screenings, in terms of life-years gained," he said.

To read more about this issue, please click here or here.

Breast cancer facebook debate …

A controversial story about a breast cancer survivor who posted photos of operation scars on Facebook has featured heavily in the press over the past few weeks. Anna Antell, 43 from Oxfordshire, shared images of her own and other’s mastectomy scars on the social networking site in the hope of raising awareness about breast cancer. The controversy began when the photos were taken down by Facebook regulators in line with its ‘no nude images’ policy.

One of the black and white images, taken as part of an art exhibition to raise money for those suffering with breast cancer, shows Ms Antell bearing the scar tissue of her removed breast whilst covering the other. Facebook employs software to process images and allows its users to report them so as to detect any that may be unsuitable or offensive. As Ms Antell’s images contained what was considered as nudity, the photographs were taken off the site.

Facebook has now reconsidered its decision and has allowed Ms Antell to repost the album, stating it recognises the need to enforce its nudity policy sensitively and that it supports her right to share her experience with her friends. In response to this, Ms Antell said “"I think it is really good they have realised that it is a valid thing; me showing a bare shoulder and a scar is not offensive. It is important to show these images to raise awareness to show what happens.” As we have seen in the past, most notably during breast cancer awareness month, Facebook can prove a powerful tool for raising awareness. It seems a fitting forum for Ms Antell to show others what she has experienced, the results of which have certainly managed to get people talking about the disease.

To read reports from BBC News and the Daily Mail and to see the image in question, please click here or here.


Laura Smith 2nd December 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

Cancerkin’s News….

Class updates…

Over the coming weeks Beverley Drumm will be offering an introductory course of Yoga and Dance therapy classes on Monday mornings. Classes in Kundalini yoga, a powerful practice where your body is gently stretched and toned, inducing deep relaxation and including postures and meditations specifically for women will take place at 10am. Classes in The Nia Technique, an expressive, dance-based movement form that is an exhilarating treat for body, mind and soul, will follow at 11am. The sessions are on Monday 29^th November, 6^th December and 13^th December. Absolutely no experience is necessary and everybody is warmly welcome. To reserve your place, please email Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 020 7830 2323.

Pilates classes will be put on hold over the Christmas period after this week’s session on Thursday 26^th November. They will restart in the New Year on Thursday 13^th January 2011.

Yoga will not take place this Friday, 26^th November, as our yoga instructor Martin is away. Classes will resume on 3^rd December 2010 when he returns.

Thank you from Cancerkin…

We would like to extend our thanks to Cheryl Berlin and Jenny Sandler, who helped us put on another successful patient support group session this week. Cheryl first gave an informative talk on genetics, breaking down the complex theory behind the BRCA1 and 2 genes, explaining how genetic testing is conducted and weighing up its benefits and disadvantages. Jenny then led a very enjoyable session in relaxation and exercise techniques. We would like to thank them both for giving us their time.

In the news…

The fight to reduce breast cancer risk…

This week, the Daily Mail has published an interesting article about the decision made by a young woman who discovered she carried a gene for breast cancer. After testing positive for the gene, Jodie Mason, 31, chose to have a radical double-mastectomy in order to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer. Although in perfect health, Miss Mason elected to have both breasts removed and replaced with gel implants, a decision that her mother had also taken five years earlier.

Miss Mason’s story highlights the difficult decisions faced by those who discover they have a familial predisposition to breast cancer - those with the gene have a higher risk of developing the disease. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can be identified by blood test and, following a positive result, preventative surgery is an option that some women take.

Accounts of radical surgery like Miss Mason’s regularly appear in the press, and whilst some deem it a drastic move, others consider it a practical decision. Speaking to the Daily Mail about her own experiences, Miss Mason said 'It is something that hangs over you and now that I have had the operation I feel like I can get on with my life.' She added: 'The operation doesn't guarantee that I won't get another form of cancer but at least I have protected myself from breast cancer.' To read her story in full, please click here.

Annual screening for younger women continued…

As we reported in the last edition of On the pulse, a leading cancer screening expert, Professor Stephen Duffy, has argued for the introduction of annual breast screening for women in their 40s with a moderate to high risk of developing breast cancer. Cancer Research UK this week published more information about the study upon which his comments are based.

The study, conducted by researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, examined 6,710 women with an intermediate familial risk of developing breast cancer, in order to find out if annual screening at an earlier age could have an impact on how early cancers were detected and on a patient’s risk of dying within ten years of diagnosis. The whole group received annual screening for an average of 4 years. Results taken from the group were then compared to those of women in two other studies into breast cancer, most of whom had not received an annual mammogram. Researchers found that in women who had been screened, breast cancer tumours were on the whole significantly smaller, less likely to spread to the lymph nodes and of a lower grade. They also discovered that women who had been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer but who had received mammograms were more likely to survive to ten years after diagnosis.

Published in the Lancet Oncology medical journal, the study states that: “In women younger than 50 years who are at medium or greater familial risk of breast cancer, mammographic surveillance could increase cancer detection, reduce the risk of advanced stage disease and decrease predicted mortality.” Hazel Nunn, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Since it seems 5,000 women would need to be screened to save one life, it will be important to weigh up these benefits carefully against potential risks of routine mammography before deciding whether screening really is the best course of action for this group. We await the results of further research measuring the risks.”

To read more about the study, please click here.

Laura Smith 25^th November 2010

l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….
Christmas is coming…
Preparations for the annual Christmas Tombola on 10th December are well underway and we have already received some generous prize donations, ranging from scented candles and book tokens to a family meal and haircuts. If you have any items that might make a suitable prize, such as a box of chocolates, toiletries or books, or if you work in a restaurant, café, shop or hairdressers and would be willing to donate your wares or services, we would love to hear from you. We are also looking for willing volunteers to shake some collection tins for us around the hospital on the day, so if you have a few hours to spare on 10th December, do get in touch. Please email Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 020 7830 2323.

Yoga Classes Cancelled…
Unfortunately, our weekly yoga class will be cancelled this Friday, 19th November, and next Friday, 26th November, as our yoga instructor Martin will be away on holiday. Classes will resume on 3rd December 2010 when he returns.


In the news…
Annual breast screening for younger women?
As reported in The Telegraph, a leading cancer specialist has this week asserted that women under the age of 50 with a family history of breast cancer should be offered annual mammograms. Professor Stephen Duffy, a cancer screening expert at the Wolfson Institute for Preventative Medicine argued that those with a moderate to strong family history of the disease should be given annual screening from the age of 40. He estimates such a move could save up to 50 lives a year and could put the minds of many women in this category at rest.

Currently the NHS’s Breast Screening Programme offers a mammogram every three years to women aged between 50 and 70, helping to save between 1,000 and 1,500 lives a year. Prof Duffy points out that only a small number of women under 50 would require the annual checks he proposes – around 300,000 thousand women aged 40-49 fall into the high risk group. He states: "It's worth doing because nowadays people are more and more aware of relatives with cancer and it causes a lot of worry."

Prof Duffy’s comments follow the publishing of his study into breast cancer in women in their 40s. The study compared death rates of women in this age bracket with a family history of breast cancer who were given annual mammograms and those of two similar groups who were not given screening. He found that, in those who had had annual screening, cancers were smaller and less likely to spread and those with cancers that had spread were more likely to be alive 10 years after diagnosis.

To read The Telegraph’s article, please click here.

A quarter of all cancers discovered late…
Research conducted by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) has revealed that 1 in 4 of all cancers in patients in England is found at a late stage following emergency admittance to hospital. Researchers at the NCIN examined the records of all English patients diagnosed with malignant cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer and multiple tumours) in 2007, to find that 23 percent of patients presented as emergencies , that is via A&E, emergency GP referral, emergency consultant outpatient referral, emergency transfer, or emergency admission or attendance. An additional 25 percent were diagnosed through the ‘Two Week Wait’ urgent GP referral.

Results suggest that the route to diagnosis varied widely between types of cancer. In breast cancer patients, only 4 percent were diagnosed following an emergency admittance with 42 per cent diagnosed after urgent GP referral and 21 per cent following routine screening. In contrast, 57 percent of patients with acute leukaemia and 58 percent of those with brain tumours were diagnosed through emergency presentation. In terms of age and socioeconomic background, the under 25s, over 75s and those from poor backgrounds were most likely to be diagnosed in this way.

What the study most importantly revealed was that survival rates were much lower in patients diagnosed at this late stage in their disease. In patients presenting as an emergency with all cancers (except acute leukaemia), the likelihood of reaching a year after diagnosis was lower than with earlier diagnosis. Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's director of health information, said of the results: "Spotting cancer early can make all the difference to the outcome. And we're working hard to raise public awareness of the early signs and symptoms of cancer and to ensure that GPs have clear guidance on who and when to refer. It's also important that people take up their screening invitations. These new data show us there's a real opportunity to reduce the numbers of cancers diagnosed this way."

To read Cancer Research UK’s report in full, please click here.

New treatment for late-stage breast cancer…
A new chemotherapy drug called Halaven, used to treat patients with metastatic breast cancer, has this week been approved for use in the U.S. This approval follows a recent study into the drug which revealed its potential to significantly increase survival times for those in the late stages of the disease.

The study examined 762 women with metastatic breast cancer who had already had two other courses of chemotherapy. They were assigned treatment with either Havalen or another single agent therapy chosen by their oncologist. For those who received Havalen, the average survival time was 13.1 months, in comparison with 10.6 months for those receiving other treatments.

Havalen belongs to a group of drugs called microtubule inhibitors, which work by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. It is a synthetic form of a chemotherapeutic agent found in the sea sponge Halichondria okadai and is received by injection. Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products at the U.S.’s Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said: "There are limited treatment options for women with aggressive forms of late-stage breast cancer who have already received other therapies. Halaven shows a clear survival benefit and is an important new option for women."

To read the full article released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, please click here.

Laura Smith 18th November 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….
Creative writing in December…
Lily Seibold will be holding her next creative writing session on Monday 6th December 2010 at 10am until 3pm. With the festive season imminent, the group will explore and write about what different seasons mean to them. Each season tells a different story and you can tell yours as well as listen to those of famous writers.

Tea and coffee will be available but lunch will not be provided. There are plenty of places around the hospital to eat, alternatively you can bring your own food and use our patient waiting room. If you would like to attend, please email Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.

In the news…
Introducing the ‘Cyberknife’…
Announced in the news this week was the arrival of the first NHS ‘Cyberknife’ machine at the Mount Vernon Hospital in North London. Providing treatment that targets difficult to treat tumours, the Cyberknife was previously only available in the UK through private health care. The machine was purchased with an anonymous donation of £2 million and its services will be made available to cancer patients all over the country, bringing hope to many who had been told that their tumours were inoperable.

The non-invasive treatment uses a robotic arm to deliver multiple beams of high dose radiation from different angles, meaning it is able to reach tumours in difficult or dangerous areas such as the brain or the spinal cord. The machine is extremely precise – its beam is accurate to within a millimetre - and so, when it is targeted at a tumour, minimal damage is made to the surrounding healthy tissue. As a result, high dose Cyberknife treatment can be delivered in just a few sessions whilst conventional radiotherapy involves twenty or more short sessions with low-dose radiation.

A BBC report about the Cyberknife interviewed Daphne Duggan, a breast cancer patient with secondary brain tumours who has benefited from the treatment. She said: ‘it’s just so easy. Everybody who is offered the opportunity to have treatment with the Cyberknife should grab it with both hands.’ It has now been announced that a further machine will be installed at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London next spring. To watch the BBC news report, please click here.

New developments in breast cancer prevention for postmenopausal women…
A new study has revealed the impact Lasofoxifene can have on reducing the risk of breast cancer and other health problems in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. A study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the US and published in the online Journal of the National Cancer Institute randomly assigned 8556 such women different doses of the drug or a placebo. Researchers found that, in comparison with those who took the placebo, the overall risk of breast cancer development in women who took 0.5 milligrams of the drug was dramatically reduced by 79%. Furthermore, the risk of estrogen receptor positive invasive cancer was reduced by 83%, and cases of coronary events, strokes, vertebral and non-vertebral fractures were all significantly lower.

Lasofoxifene belongs to the same group of drugs as Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, known as SERMs – or selective estrogen receptor modulators – which are sometimes used in breast cancer chemoprevention. The drugs work by blocking the effects of estrogen on breast tissue and all have similar effects on reducing breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis as well as offering certain health benefits. However Tamoxifen can cause further complications and has been linked with endometrial cancer and other gynaecological problems, whereas Raloxifene is less widely used as it does not offer a wide enough range of health benefits. What this study reveals is that Lasofoxifene potentially offers a wider variety of health benefits but does not pose further risks to patients’ health.

Victor G. Vogel, MD, of the Geisinger Medical Center, said of the study: "We need more complete information about the long-term effects of Lasofoxifene on both beneficial and unfavourable outcomes, but the early data regarding its risks and benefits are encouraging." To read more about the study, click here.

Exercise can aid recovery…
At Cancerkin, we see first hand the positive impact undertaking exercise and staying active can have for our patients. In the news this week, preliminary results from a study into exercise for recovering breast cancer patients suggest that a structured programme of physical activity can help reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and improve quality of life. The pilot study, lead by researchers at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, indicates that increasing physical activity improves general health and is therefore an important part of the rehabilitation process.

Researchers found that on the whole, breast cancer patients tended to do less exercise during treatment than they had beforehand. Many were motivated by their diagnosis to undertake a new healthier lifestyle but often failed to put such plans into action due to lack of support and structure. Annabel Pollard who led the study said: "Enabling cancer survivors to recover or improve their health after cancer treatment is perhaps as important as treating the disease […] The research indicates that simply providing information alone does not change behaviour; a structured approach is more conducive to change". Clinical Oncological Society of Australia President, Professor Bruce Mann, added: "Physical activity is not usually high on the list of priorities for patients, but we should be encouraging and supporting them to undertake structured programs." If you would like to read the article in full, please click here.

Laura Smith 11th November 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk