On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer

In the news…

Use of antidepressant interferes with cancer drug

Researchers in Canada have suggested that a popular antidepressant may be interfering with the effects of a cancer drug with potentially fatal consequences for some women. Paroxetine, (brand name Seroxat) (commonly prescribed for depression and also to help with the hot flushes that many women suffer as a side effect of tamoxifen) may be cancelling out the effects of tamoxifen (a drug for patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer). This is not to say that paroxetine itself causes or influences breast cancer, rather that it can neutralise the effects of tamoxifen. The report was published in the British Medical Journal and the editorial warned that these two drugs should not be prescribed together. One of the authors, Dr David Juurlink said: “These results highlight a drug interaction that is extremely common, widely under-appreciated and potentially life-threatening, yet uniformly avoidable. He added: "When co-prescription of tamoxifen with an antidepressant is necessary, preference should be given to antidepressants that exhibit little or no impact on tamoxifen's metabolism." The researchers did say that women should not stop taking tamoxifen and cautioned against stopping paroxetine; rather women should talk to their doctors about the best course of action. Read more in: Daily Telegraph and the Mail Online

Gordon Brown pledges one to one care for cancer patients

In an interview with the Observer, the Prime Minister pledged that if Labour wins the next general election, cancer patients will be offered free one to one home care by specialist nurses. This was reiterated on Monday in a speech to the King’s Fund think tank. In the speech, he also highlighted the need to focus “far more on prevention and early intervention” and restated that Labour would extend the Cancer Guarantee - which gives everyone with suspected cancer the right to see a specialist within 2 weeks of diagnosis - to ensure that all cancer tests are completed and results given within just 1 week. This was much reported in the media and the story can be read in the following places, among others: BBC News, Cancer Research UK and The Observer

Shortage of Medicines

Serious shortages are being reported around the country of about 40 well known drugs used to treat a range of conditions including cancer. The health minister, Mike O’Brien, said that speculators were putting patients’ lives at risk by selling drugs abroad that were intended for the UK market. He said: "I have made it very clear that it is a very few unscrupulous people that are putting profits before patients. Rather than selling drugs to NHS patients as they should, they are selling them abroad for greater profit."He added: "There are people who are sending out shopping lists of medicines to pharmacists, with the difference in price between us and Europe," said a spokesman for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. "They are skimming off medicines meant for UK patients." Two breast cancer patients reported difficulties accessing supplies of Arimidex and Femara in a story in the Mail Online. Read more about this story generally in The Guardian

Fewer larger doses of radiotherapy may be better

A study published in the Lancet Oncology surveyed over 4000 women and concluded that fewer, larger doses of radiotherapy, with a lower overall dose, may be preferable to the international standard treatment. This is on the basis that the former is just as effective but produces fewer side effects. Radiotherapy is often used after a tumour has been removed by surgery, to kill off any remaining cancerous cells. Women on the new regime reported fewer skin changes and of course, there were fewer treatment visits required. The standard treatment is given daily and is usually over a 4-6 week period. A spokeswoman for Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: "Radiotherapy is important in reducing the chance of cancer coming back but women have told Breakthrough that attending many sessions can be both physically and emotionally draining. Anything that has the potential to deliver radiotherapy treatment in a way that could benefit a patient’s quality of life is to be welcomed.” Read more here: Cancer Research UK and Telegraph

World Cancer Day…

…on 4th February, focussed on prevention this year, citing a few simple changes to our lifestyles as helping to reduce the risk of getting cancer. All the usual culprits were noted – smoking, alcohol, weight, inactivity and diet. It was stressed that these factors alone will not determine whether a person gets cancer, but can help to reduce the risk. Worldwide cancers account for 1/8th of all deaths, which is more than malaria, AIDS and TB combined.
“Fighting” Cancer
I reported last week on various articles in the press focussing on what was referred to as the ‘tyranny of positive thinking’ when it comes to dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Looking at this issue in a slightly different way – do people with cancer have to ‘fight it’; does mental attitude make a difference to recovery?
What is your experience of this? Does this sort of language help you or does it annoy you? Did you endure your cancer or did you fight it? If the latter, what did you do? Did you tire of people telling you to have a fighting spirit or did it help?
I would be most interested to hear your views on this topic. You can either email me or reply direct on the website, where this news digest can also be found.

Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 10th February 2010