On the pulse...

On the pulse

Cancerkin News…
Hyde Park Walk sponsorship…
Thank you to all of you who have been sending in your sponsorship for the Hyde Park Walk - the fundraising total is steadily on the rise! For those of you who have yet to send in your monies, remember to do so before Friday 13th August, when our top 3 fundraisers will be awarded with luxury products kindly donated by Floris. Please remember to make all cheques payable to Cancerkin and where possible please avoid sending cash in the post. Please contact l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk if you have any queries about sponsorship.

Renowned opera reviewer gives Cancerkin opera event thumbs up…
Simon Thomas, top opera reviewer for magazine and online arts listing, What’s On Stage, has written a fantastic review of Cancerkin’s up and coming opera gala evening at the Soho Theatre, London- rating it as a must see production. If you would like to join us for the event, which begins a 6.30pm on Saturday 31st July for a champagne and canapés reception with the cast then please contact l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk for further information and ticket requests. To view Simon Thomas’ report please click here or look up his blogs for Cancerkin on Twitter here.

In the News…
Beat cancer by having fun…
A study at Ohio University has taken mice that have cancer out of their usual commune of 5 and have placed them in a more sociable group of around 15-20 other mice, to see if this has an effect on their response to their cancer. Alongside the extra housemates the mice were given more toys, hiding space and running wheels. The result of this new environment saw the mice’s tumours become 43% smaller with a 77% reduction in mass and around 5% of the mice showing no evidence of the cancer disease after 3 weeks in the new home. These effects were not replicated in the mice that were kept in the standard accommodation.

Study lead Prof. Matthew During said “We’re really showing that you can’t look at a disease like cancer in isolation. For too long physicians and others have stuck to what they know- surgery, chemo radiotherapy. If we look at people more in terms of their perceptions of disease and environment, we could realise a profound influence on cancer”. This research helps to validate the views that a positive mental attitude and a safe and secure environment can help to play an important role in beating breast cancer; an outlook Cancerkin work to promote every day. This story featured on page 14 of Friday morning’s Metro.

Cancer genealogy poses threat to men….
Men who are carriers of a faulty BRCA2 gene have a 1 in 15 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer by the time they are 70 The Daily Mail reported this week. This figure is opposed to the 1 in 1000 chance men in the general population have of developing breast cancer. The gene can be passed down through generations regardless of the sex of the newborn baby; a fact that will change many people’s views on the link between genetics and breast cancer. Each year in the UK 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer, compared to the 45,000 for women. Read the full article here

Positive results for new breast cancer drug….
A new drug sponsored by AstraZeneca has caused positive results in its latest trial. Olaparib, as the drug is called, effects cancers caused by faulty BRCA 1 and 2 genes. In Stage II trials for breast cancer and ovarian cancer, 111 patients were given the drug in small or large amounts. In the breast cancer trial of the patients who received the larger dose, 40% had a significant reduction in tumour size and tumours were stopped from increasing for about 6 months. To read full details of the trial please click here

Could being overweight really lower the risk of developing breast cancer..?
A study has found that being overweight when young may reduce the chances of developing breast cancer in later life. Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston undertook a 17 year study to research the effects of weight on the development of breast cancer. The study which took into account the records of 188,860 women found that an increased level of body fat, particularly during adolescence decreases the risk of breast cancer in pre and post-menopausal women. However the dangers of being overweight are well known and pose many other risks in themselves. Please click here to read the full article.

Lauren Newton 9th July 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk