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

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News…

Music Therapy…

Cancerkin is pleased to announce the pilot introduction of a brand new therapy: Music Therapy. Therapist, Karina Gretere, will be running three taster sessions on September 24th, October 1st and October 8th. Karina will use improvisation to draw her patients into shared music making, engaging in a person’s innate creativity and working with difficulties affecting their well being. If you are interested in taking part in these sessions or would like more general information about music therapy please speak to Jean on reception.

New Intern…

Another week, another intern! This summer, Cancerkin is lucky enough to have the help of Athena Tasou. Athena, who is currently studying a Psychology degree at Oxford Brookes, will be in the Cancerkin office three days a week to assist on fundraising, PR and events. We are extremely happy to have her and wish her the best of luck during her time here.

In the News…

A gift of life….

In a story as good as any Hollywood blockbuster, 37 year old Nikki Blunden, mum to a four year old little boy, has been given the gift of life by a complete stranger. Nikki, whose breast cancer had spread to her liver, lymph nodes and brain, was denied life-prolonging drugs by her health authority who claimed they were too expensive, and thus was not expecting to live out the year. However, in a lucky twist of fate businessman Nazir Mohammed heard of Nikki’s story through a friend and has generously donated the £25,000 needed for the treatment, saying ‘If I can give her the chance of a few more months by paying for the drug, I’m happy to do that.’

Although this story reminds us all that generosity and selflessness is still alive in our society, it is yet another example of the emergent number of young women suffering with cancer. Cancerkin’s La Boheme benefit opera evening will be raising money to help these women by setting up a Young Women’s Support Group later this year. If you would like to attend the opera or would like more information on the Young Women’s Support Group please contact l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk .

This story was featured in the Metro (p34) on Thursday 24th June


Double- mastectomy for mother and son….

Following the death of her mother from ovarian cancer when she was just 12 years old, and the later diagnosis of her two sisters, (both with breast cancer), Lynda Skillom agonised for months over whether to have a double- mastectomy. After choosing to go through with the surgery, Lynda was dealt another blow, as her only child, 29 year old son Cedric was also found to have pre-cancerous tissues in both breasts.

After informing the doctor of her family history with cancer and herself having cancerous lumps removed from both breasts, Linda was tested for a mutation in the BRCA2 gene; a mutation which drastically increases a carrier’s risk of breast and other forms of cancer. Sure enough the result was positive.

Breast cancers are five times more likely in women who inherit the BRAC2 mutation. Furthermore, cancer in carriers of the faulty gene is also notoriously aggressive. Knowing this information Lynda took decisive steps to prevent her cancer returning, opting to have both a double mastectomy and her ovaries removed- a step she took to prevent ovarian cancer, a disease linked to the BRCA2 mutation.
After experiencing tenderness and chest pain for around 2 years, Lynda’s son Cedric also fell victim to the BRCA2 gene, and he was promptly diagnosed with breast cancer. Following in the footsteps of his mother, Cedric too opted for a double- mastectomy. Commenting on his drastic decision Cedric says, "Most of all I felt surprised, really surprised. I didn't know that men could get breast cancer. As a man it felt strange, but I wanted to take care of it there and then, so I wouldn't have to worry about it coming back.”

"While breast cancer is rare in men, those who carry the BRCA2 gene are at greater risk of getting the disease," says Dr Patricia Robinson, the oncologist who treated mother and son at the Loyola University Health System, in Chicago. "A double mastectomy is often the best option for long-term prognosis for these patients.” A fault in the BRCA2 gene, which is needed for effective DNA repair, is thought to be responsible for about 10 per cent of breast-cancer cases in men. For male carriers of BRCA2 mutation, the lifetime risk of the disease is as high as 10 per cent. It also seems to raise the risk of prostate cancer, causing a particularly aggressive form of the disease.
Read the Skillom’s full story here

Lauren Newton 18th June 2010

l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk