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

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News…
Hyde Park Walk…
Our Hyde Park Walk takes place this Sunday, 13th June. Registration will be between 9-10.30am with the walk finishing at approximately 2.30pm. Graeme Le Saux, ex Chelsea and England football player will be there to open the event. Entry will be available on the day so please feel free to bring anyone along with you who would like to take part. As always many hands make light work, so if you know someone who would like to volunteer to help in the smooth running of the day they would be more than welcome. If your T-shirt has not yet arrived do not fear as there will be spare available on the day as well as extra sponsorship forms, maps and donation slips. If you want any more information about the day’s events please contact l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

La Boheme
On Saturday 31st July in coordination with new production company Opera Up Close, Cancerkin will be hosting their benefit performance of Puccini’s La Boheme. By now you should all have received your invitations to this exciting event. With only 7 weeks to go, ticket requests are coming in thick and fast. To be sure you don’t miss out send your form back asap to:
The Cancerkin Centre, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, NW2 3QG.

In the News…
Trials show revolutionary Intrabeam treatment working…
In 2008 Cancerkin donated a revolutionary piece of equipment known as the Intrabeam to the Royal Free Hospital. The machine allows surgeons to perform targeted radiotherapy whilst a patient is in theatre, thus negating the need for the patient to return to hospital for radiotherapy following their surgery. This could avoid a patient making up to a further 35 visits to hospital for post operative radiotherapy whilst reducing waiting times of patients and saving much needed NHS funds.

After a 10- year clinical trial around the world, involving 2,200 patients, results presented to the American Society of Clinic Oncology have shown the use of the Intrabeam to be safe. The findings were published in the medical journal The Lancet, with surgeons at the Royal Free stating that the process signals “the future of breast cancer treatment”. Mr Mohammed Keshtgar, consultant surgical oncologist at the Royal Free and supporter of Cancerkin said: “The most important finding is that the procedure is safe. It has fewer side effects, is as effective as conventional radiotherapy and is far more convenient for the patient who has gone through the psychological and physical trauma of having surgery for breast cancer.”

After approval from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) it is hoped that this could be available on the NHS within 2/3 years for most breast cancer patients with early cancer who are also undergoing a lumpectomy. Projections suggest it could help up to 70% of the 50,000 patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year. Cancerkin is extremely proud of its involvement with such revolutionary work and will continue to follow the progress of the treatment with interest.

New treatment for early stage breast cancer…
Removal of the underarm lymph nodes next to a cancerous breast was long the standard treatment. However, a study involving 991 women has found that the removal of the nodes did not necessarily prolong survival or prevent recurrence of the cancer. Michael Baum, lead investigator of the radiation study at the University College London said that “The theme [of research] is now how can we improve the quality of life for women”.

All of the 991 women involved in the study had had lumpectomies, radiation therapy and a positive sentinel lymph node; while half had the other lymph nodes surrounding the breast removed the other half did not. The results show that after five years there was no difference in survival or disease recurrence between the two groups with Dr Armando Giuliano, lead investigator of the study even going so far as to call the evidence overwhelming: “The evidence is overwhelming that the operation might not be necessary,” .Dr. Giuliano did say however, the results of the study apply only to women who undergo a lumpectomy followed by radiation, not women who undergo complete breast removal, who do not typically get radiotherapy.

Some critics of the study have said that it has several shortcomings namely that the women who were tested seem to have quite favourable prognoses between them and that the study needs to encompass a larger number of women. Read the full article here

LaurenNewton 11th June 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk