On the pulse 16th December

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....

This will be our final newsletter of 2011 and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Cancerkin to wish you all the best for the festive season and the New Year. 2011 has been a wonderful year for Cancerkin, which would not have been possible if it were not for you. We wish to thank our supporters and funders for their generosity and support, our trustees, staff, therapists and volunteers for their help and hard work, and of course all our patients for their kind words and for inspiring us all to continue striving to provide the best possible service.

Please note that the Cancerkin Centre will still be open next week but that there will be no therapies taking place. The centre will be closed from Friday 23rd December and will reopen in the New Year on Tuesday 3rd January.

Cancerkin and the Big Give...

Thank you so much to all those who donated to Cancerkin during a week of online donation doubling. We are thrilled to announce we raised a total of £8,375 in donations from our supporters and match funding from the Pink Ribbon Foundation and the Big Give.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who experienced problems with the Big Give’s website for your patience and perseverance. The Big Give had some serious technical difficulties throughout the week and they have apologised for any inconvenience caused to you.

Christmas celebrations...

Cancerkin held another successful Tombola and gift sale last week to celebrate the festive season. Our lucky winners took home gifts from Le Pain Quotidien, Enz Hair Salon, Costa Coffee, Revlon, Susan Wainwright, Hampstead Tea Rooms, Gelato Mio and many more. Thank you to all the local businesses and supporters who donated prizes and thank you especially to Heidi Clevely who once again donated a fantastic selection of gift items for us to sell.

This Monday, commuters and residents of St John’s Wood were treated to a round of Christmas carols from the St John’s Wood church chamber choir. The choir sang festive favourites at the St John’s Wood underground station and held a collection in aid of Cancerkin. They raised a very impressive £290 – thank you to the choir for braving the cold and putting on such a wonderful show.

Cancerkin’s 25th Anniversary...

As 2012 approaches, we at Cancerkin are looking forward to a year of celebrations for our 25th Anniversary. Founded in 1987, Cancerkin will be commemorating a quarter century dedicated to the support and care of those affected by breast cancer. To mark this achievement, we will be kicking of the celebrations with our Annual Lecture on Tuesday 27th March, to be given by Professor Jonathan Waxman MD FRCP Professor of Oncology and Consultant Physician, Imperial College London, followed by our biggest and best Hyde Park yet on Sunday 17th June. More to be announced soon!

In the News.....

Controlling your cancer risk...

Our risk of developing cancer is based on a mixture of factors – our genes, our environment and our lifestyle choices, some of which we are able to control. Research has shown that leading a healthy lifestyle helps to reduce our cancer risk. Cancer Research UK this month published a ‘landmark’ review, led by Professor Max Parkin, into the latest evidence behind the preventable causes of cancers in the UK, producing some interesting results.

The review looked at 14 lifestyle and environmental risk factors, including tobacco, being overweight, a diet low infruit and vegetables, alcohol, occupation, sunlight and sunbeds, and analysed the proportion of different cancers that could be prevented through changes to these factors. Based on predicted cases of cancer in 2010, it found that a third of all UK diagnoses each year were caused by smoking, diet, alcohol and obesity. For all cancers, the biggest preventable risk factor was tobacco. For breast cancer specifically, the biggest, in order of significance, were: being overweight, alcohol, occupation, hormone replacement therapy, inactivity, not breast feeding, radiation. CRUK has produced a fascinating infographic which displays the findings for each cancer type and the proportion that could be prevented through changes to the various lifestyle factors. To see it, please click here.

Writing in its science blog, CRUK was quick to highlight that sharing these results was in no way about blame but was aimed at equipping the public and policy-makers with the best possible information. Every person diagnosed with cancer has a unique set of circumstances that led them to develop the disease, some of which could have been controlled, some which could not. Furthermore, leading a healthy lifestyle is not a guarantee against cancer. In both instances however, there are factors that we can control and ways that we can reduce our risk, to ‘stack the odds in our favour.’ In terms of policy-makers, information is vital in planning public health interventions. For example, decades of research into the risks of smoking has led to the implementation of successful policies to encourage people to give up, the effects of which can now be seen in the decreasing rates of lung cancer in UK men.

To read more on the review’s findings, click here, or to read the science blog in full, which includes a discussion of each of the risk factors examined in the review, please click. here. You can also read Professor Waxman’s commentary on the review here, in which he describes the urgent need for the government to address obesity in the same way it has tackled smoking.

Laura Smith

On the pulse - 25th November 2011

On the pulse...

Cancerkin's News Update.....

The Big Give and Cancerkin...

As we announced last week, this Christmas there is an exciting opportunity to make your generosity to Cancerkin go twice as far. Cancerkin is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge on Monday 5th December 2011. The Pink Ribbon Foundation and the Big Give have generously pledged to match every online donation made on that day pound for pound. Our target is to raise £5,000, which means we stand to receive an incredible £10,000.

Please do put the date in your diary. This is a unique fundraising event and the proceeds will enable us to continue providing care and emotional support to those with breast cancer. We do hope you will be able to support us. For more information, please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.

Cancerkin also has an item up for sale in the Big Give’s Charity Christmas Auction – a 1969 Lynn Chadwick print, framed and signed by the artist. Chadwick was a celebrated British artist and sculptor, and the piece was kindly donated to Cancerkin to raise funds. The online auction will run from 8pm on Sunday 27th November to 8pm on Sunday 4th December 2011. If you would like to know more, please click here.

Festivities at Cancerkin...

Our annual Christmas Tombola will be on Wednesday 7th December 2011 from 10am to 4pm outside the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital. New prizes have been added this week, including meals at le Pain Quotidien, ice cream at Gelato Mio and tickets to the Everyman Cinema. There will also be lots of lovely festive gifts, cards, books and, of course, mince pies on offer in our sale. If you would like to donate a prize or would like to volunteer at the tombola, please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.

In other festive news, Cancerkin has been selected as the lucky charity to benefit from funds raised at the Finchley Women’s Institute ‘Frost Fair’. The fair is on Saturday 3rd December 2011 at Avenue House on East End Road, Finchley from 10am-4pm, entry £1. There will be gifts, toys and scrumptious cakes on sale, so why not pop in for a cup of tea and a bit of shopping.

Cancerkin is also thrilled to be the chosen charity for the St John’s Wood Church Chamber Choir’s annual carol singing collection at the St John’s Wood Underground Station. The choir will be braving the December cold to entertain passersby with a selection of festive carols on Monday 12th December from 5pm. Please do watch out for them on your way past, or you might even like to join in.


In the News.....

Research into genetic testing underway...

Cancer Research UK has this week announced it has started recruiting participants for its nationwide research project into the potential benefits of genetic testing for cancer patients. The project aims to demonstrate how the NHS could use genetic testing of cancers to match patients to the best available treatments. It will also provide a database of information for research into new targeted drugs.

The ‘Stratified Medicine Programme’ will ask 9,000 patients from more than 20 hospitals to participate in the first stage of the project. So far 240 patients have agreed to take part. The research will focus on six types of cancer: breast, bowel, lung, prostate, ovarian and melanoma skin cancer. A small sample from each patient’s tumour will be taken, from which DNA will be extracted and analysed for a range of molecular faults linked with cancer. Researchers will store these results and other clinical information so that they can monitor possible relationships between specific genetic faults in cancer cells and success of different treatments. Patients’ treatment will not be altered in any way at this stage but the hope is that scientists will be able to use the information collected to design better targeted treatments in the future.

One of the first patients to be taking part, Wendy Payne,55, from Cambridge and who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March this year, said of the project: “I was very keen to take part in the Stratified Medicine Programme because I think much more can and should be done to help patients get the right drugs in future. Finding out I had cancer was terrifying but it’s incredible to think that the tumour which could have killed me can now be used to develop more targeted drugs in future. Even though I won’t benefit from that research, it’s comforting to think that my experience with cancer will be helping others who are diagnosed in future.”

James Peach, director of Cancer Research UK’s Stratified Medicine Programme, said: “In the ten years since the Human Genome Project was completed we’ve made huge progress in unraveling the genetic basis of cancer and understanding what drives it at a molecular level. We know that prescribing certain drugs according to the genetic basis of the tumour can improve the chances of successful treatment. And by hardwiring research into the day-to-day care of cancer patients, we can harness the power of the NHS to bring personalised medicine a step closer to reality.”

To read more, please click here.


Laura Smith

On the pulse - 18th November 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....

The Big Give and Cancerkin...

This Christmas, our supporters will have the chance to double their donation to Cancerkin – for free! Cancerkin is very excited to be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge on Monday 5th December 2011, raising funds for emotional support and care for women with breast cancer, and we are fortunate to be supported by the Pink Ribbon Foundation. For every online donation made on that day, the Pink Ribbon Foundation and the Big Give itself have pledged to match it pound for pound. Our target is to raise £5,000, which means we will receive an incredible £10,000.

Please do put the date in your diary. This is an amazing fundraising opportunity which will enable us to continue providing care and emotional support to those with breast cancer. We do hope you will be able to support us. For more information, please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

Christmas Tombola...

We have had some fabulous prizes donated to our annual Christmas Tombola, which will be on Wednesday 7th December 2011 from 10am to 4pm outside the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital. There is the chance to win a haircut at Enz hair salon, a Family meal at Hampstead Tea Rooms, a session of reflexology at Belsize Health complementary medicine clinic, book vouchers from Daunt Books and many more. There will also be lots of lovely gifts, cards, books and, of course, mince pies on offer in our sale. We do hope to see you there.

If you, your business or workplace would like to donate a prize, we would love to hear from you. Past donations have ranged from cinema tickets and restaurant vouchers to boxes of chocolate and gift sets. We are also looking for helpers to join our wonderful team of volunteers on the day. If you are free for an hour or two on 7th December, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.


In the News.....


New evidence of DNA Repair Targeting Drug...

A few weeks ago, On The Pulse reported on the inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 faulty genes and the genetic links between breast cancer risk and family members. Last week, research presented at the NRCI Cancer Conference in Liverpool indicated that scientist have developed a new way of destroying cancer cells containing these faulty BRCA genes, by blocking an enzyme in the gene which repairs DNA. Researchers at the University of Nottingham have found that blocking a DNA repair enzyme, called APE1, could enable a new way to kill cancer cells with the faulty BRCA gene.

Normal BRCA genes control a major DNA repair pathway. Those cells with the damaged BRCA have faulty repair functions. This means that damaged cells can multiply out of control and accumulate faults, which in turn increases the risk of developing breast cancer. However, too much of this damage can lead to cell death. By blocking the repair enzyme APE1, two repair routes are stopped simultaneously causing a build up of faults which ultimately leads to the cancer cells death.

Blocking two repair routes at once is a technique already being used with a new class of drugs called PARP inhibitors. Research suggests the APE1 could provide an additional drug target.
Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Campaign, which part-funded the research, said: "With up to ten per cent of all breast cancers thought to result from faulty BRCA1 and/or 2 genes, new treatments for these patients could possibly help up to 4,800 of the women diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year. Currently there are limited options available to them and this potential new treatment, although at an early stage could provide a real lifeline and a better chance of survival, which can only be good news.”

To read Breast Cancer Campaign's article please click here.


Laura Smith 18th November 2011

On the pulse - 11th November 2011

On the pulse...


Cancerkin's News Update.....


Christmas is coming...

The festive season is fast approaching and Cancerkin is gearing up for its holiday celebrations. We will be holding our annual Christmas Tombola and sale on Wednesday 7th December 2011 from 10am to 4pm outside the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital. Last year prizes ranged from boxes of chocolates to bottles of champagne and meals for two, and we hope this year will be even better! There will also be lots of lovely gifts, cards, books and, of course, mince pies on offer. We do hope to see you there.

If you would like to donate a prize – perhaps a box of chocolates or a gift set – please do get in touch. Maybe your business or workplace would be interested in helping make the event a success – past donations have included cinema tickets, restaurant vouchers and hair cuts. Please contact Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323 to find out more.


We are also looking for helpers to join our wonderful team of volunteers on the day. We need help running the tombola, holding collection tins and handing out mince pies. If you are free for an hour or two on 7th December, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.


Therapies update...

This month’s patient support group will take place on Tuesday 29th November 2011 from 11am to 1pm. From 11am, the group will be visited by Ansuya Padhiar, a representative from leading mastectomy lingerie and swimwear provider Nicola Jane. From 12pm, wig and hair piece specialists Trendco will join the group.


Also on 29th November Cancerkin will run a pilot art therapy class from 1.30pm to 3pm. The class will be facilitated by Kirsty Nicholson, who has a Masters in Art Therapy from Roehampton University, is registered with the Health Professionals Council and is a member of the British Association of Art Therapists.


To reserve your place at either session, please contact Una on 020 7830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.



In the News.....



More support needed from employers...

A breast cancer diagnosis can have implication for a woman’s job and financial situation. A review on the employment experiences of over 1,000 breast cancer patients from all over the world was published this week with interesting findings. Dr Maggi Banning from Brunel University in the UK carried out the review of ten different studies conducted between 1991 and 2010 in the USA, Canada, the UK, Sweden and Denmark, revealing a number of important trends in the experiences of breast cancer patients upon their return to work after treatment.

The review showed that some women welcomed the structure and distraction brought about by the return to work and a normal routine, whilst others were concerned about their physical capacity for work after treatment and about their employers’ expectations. Around half of the women in the study could no longer afford to stay out of work, some missed treatment sessions to prevent taking time off, and lack of sick pay and concerns about losing their job and were prevalent. Some felt the importance of their work or their work aspirations had changed or reduced. Many women found treatment side-effects affected their health and some struggled with loss of confidence and emotional problems.

In terms of employer’s attitudes to women returning after breast cancer, findings were mixed. Employer’s expectations of the women’s work capacity varied, and while some employers and colleagues were found to be supportive, others were not. Some women were able to change roles or reduce working hours but others were refused this, with certain employers even insisting they resign or retire. Some women found employers and colleagues judged them upon or were misled by their physical appearance, leading to a lack of sympathy and support and many people not realising the residual effects of treatment.

The review makes a number of recommendations for both employers and health professionals to better manage the process of returning to work. Its states that employers need better education to avoid the ‘culture of ignorance’ that seems to exist, occupational health departments need to conduct ‘fitness to work’ assessments on employees with cancer and need to supply managers with guidelines of what to expect from them. Olivia Marks-Woldman, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Breast Cancer Care said of the study: “being diagnosed with breast cancer can have a major impact on many areas of a person’s life, including their employment, so it’s concerning to see women are facing unrealistic expectations from others in the workplace and might not have support from their colleagues when they return to work”.

To read more on the review, please click here and here.


Laura Smith

On the pulse - 4th November 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....

The Last of the Duchess...

On Monday, Cancerkin and its supporters spent an evening at the theatre for a special performance of ‘The Last of the Duchess’ in honour of breast cancer awareness month. We all very much enjoyed the play, which starred actor and breast cancer survivor Sheila Hancock. Ms Hancock met with a number of our guests after the performance to show her support of Cancerkin. Click here to see photos from the evening.

The event was a great success and we hope all those who attended enjoyed the evening as much as we did. We are pleased to announce that all in all we have raised over £12,000. Thank you all for supporting us! We would like to thank all those who donated such wonderful prizes to our raffle – Ana Maria Pires, Bradley’s Restaurant, Daniel Adams Hairdressers, Floris of London, Pizza Express, Ozzis Hair Studio and the Hampstead Theatre - and well done to our lucky raffle winners! Cancerkin would also like to say a special thank you to Royal Free Hospital photographer David Bishop, who took such beautiful photographs of the evening and who helps Cancerkin with so many of its events and promotions. Thank you once again David.

Maggie’s Getting Started workshop...

Also on Monday, Cancerkin was excited to host Maggie’s ‘Getting started with cancer treatment’ workshop, lead by the Centre Head of Maggie’s London and clinical nurse specialist, Bernie Byrne. 13 women attended the workshop, designed for those who have been recently diagnosed with cancer. The session provided information to help those affected by the disease better understand their cancer treatment, manage their side effects and focus on their wellbeing. Feedback from our patients has been extremely positive and we would like to thank Bernie for leading such an informative and positive workshop.

Calling all glamorous givers...

Cancerkin is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with innovative social enterprise Glamgiving. Glamgiving collects and sells high quality designer fashion and donates the proceeds to a good cause. It gives clothes that are just too good for the charity shop a second life and ensures that they go for the price they deserve. Glamgiving helps to organise ‘glam parties’ at which guests can donate and buy high-end fashion pieces, as well as collecting individual donations of clothes to be sold through its website, which is due to be fully launched early next year. To find out more, click here.

Cancerkin has been selected as Glamgiving’s launch partner charity and funds raised by the initiative will finance a day of treatment in our specialised lymphoedema clinic and a professional counsellor to oversee our North and East London teams of ‘Experienced Patients’. We hope that our fashion conscious supporters will get involved with this initiative and consider becoming the host of their own ‘glam party’! Please contact Louise on lou@glamgiving.com if you would like to know how.

In the News.....

New research into breast cancer risk and family history...

Having a family history of breast cancer can affect an individual’s risk of developing the disease. A fault or mutation appearing on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can be inherited from a mother or father and can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer by between 50 and 85 percent. When a woman is discovered to have a BRCA 1 or BRCA2 mutation, other female family members are routinely screened for the same mutation.

New research published this week in The Journal of Clinical Oncology has shown reassuring results for women with relatives who have the faulty breast cancer gene. Researchers at Stanford University looked at more than 3,000 families with a mutation. The research found that women who have relatives with the high risk BRCA gene mutation but who do not carry the mutation themselves are not at greater risk of developing the disease, as previously thought. An earlier study published in 2007 suggested that even when a woman who had family members carrying the gene mutation had tested negative for the mutation herself, she was still up to five times more likely to develop breast cancer. The most recent research contradicts this, suggesting that if women with high-risk family members test negative for the faulty BRCA gene, they have the same risk as the rest of the general population.

The research team believes these new finding may provide some reassurance to those women in high-risk families. Dr Harold Burstein, breast oncologist at Dana-Farber Institute at Boston said: “Women with a family history of breast cancer are understandably worried about their own risk of developing breast cancer. This study provides strong reassurance that 'no means no' when it comes to negative results on the BRCA1 / BRCA2 genetic tests for these patients. That is, despite the family history, the risk of breast cancer is not greater than that for ordinary women in similar circumstances when the genetic test is 'normal.'”

To read more, click here and here.

More on alcohol and breast cancer...

While it has long been acknowledged that alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer, it has previously been unclear how drinking small amounts of alcohol affects risk. Results from a new American study, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggest that even low-level alcohol consumption can significantly increase risk.

A team of researchers at Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston in the US analysed data from 105,986 women in the ‘Nurses’ Health Study’. 7,600 of the participants went on to be diagnosed with breast cancer over an 18 year period. The team found that those who drank a low level amount of an average of three to six small drinks a week had an increased risk of around 15 percent when compared with those who did not drink at all. According to results, those who drank a more excessive amount of at least two drinks a day were 51 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.

Sarah Williams, health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "This study adds to already strong evidence that drinking even small amounts of alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. Researchers found a small increased risk for low alcohol intake but the risk increases the more people drink. And the study re-confirmed that all types of alcohol - beer, wine and spirits - increase the risk of cancer. Cutting down on alcohol can reduce the chance of developing breast cancer - as can keeping a healthy weight and being physically active. A healthy lifestyle isn't a guarantee against cancer but it helps stack the odds in our favour."

To read more on this study, please click here.

Laura Smith 4th November 2011

On the pulse - 28th October 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....

A night at the theatre...

Cancerkin is very much looking forward to its night out at Hampstead Theatre on Monday evening in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We will be welcoming over 200 of our friends and supporters for a performance of ‘The Last of The Duchess’ starring Sheila Hancock. To read a review of the play, please click here. To add to the evening’s entertainment, we will be hosting a drinks reception before the performance and a raffle with fabulous prizes to be won. We hope you are as excited as we are!

News from East London...

It has been an exciting week for Cancerkin’s East London Project Team. As part of the launch of its ‘Awareness Ambassadors’ programme, the team is running breast awareness training sessions for students recruited from the University of East London’s School of Health. Once trained, they will act as local advocates for breast awareness within their communities and will also work with Cancerkin to hold awareness events in East London. Two very successful sessions took place this week, with a third planned for next Friday.

The Team has also returned to St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney today to continue their free complementary therapy sessions for women living with cancer in East London. Patients took part in a range of therapy sessions, including reiki, reflexology, art therapy and tai chi and yoga. They also held a breast awareness stall with information on breast awareness, screening and Cancerkin’s support services.

Many thanks to all at the University of East London and St Joseph’s Hospice for their ongoing support of Cancerkin’s East London Project.

Thank you from Cancerkin...

This Tuesday was our monthly patient support group. Nutritional therapist Marta Vasquez gave a very informative talk on the science behind the food we eat and answered questions on what we should include in our diet and what we should avoid. Our ‘Experienced Patients’ Judy Sanitt and Janet Reilly then shared their experiences of breast cancer with the group and answered questions on a wide range of topics. On behalf of the group, we would like to say a huge thank you to all three women for such an informative and interesting session.

In the News.....

Review of breast screening launched...

As you will all be aware, there has been widespread debate about the benefits and risks of breast screening in recent months. It is widely acknowledged that in terms of cancer treatment, the earlier found the better. Screening programmes, such as the NHS breast cancer screening programme, can help doctors to make that earlier diagnosis. However they also run the risk of false positives in healthy people and overtreatment of cancers that may never have become harmful to a person’s health. Recent research has suggested these risks may outweigh the benefits of breast screening, whilst the NHS maintains that the programmes saves 1400 lives a year in the UK.

In response to the ongoing controversy, Professor Sir Mike Richards, UK Cancer Tsar (who spoke at Cancerkin’s Annual Lecture earlier this year), announced on Wednesday that he will lead a review of evidence for and against breast screening, in the hope of settling the debate. He said of the review’s possible outcomes: "Should the independent review conclude that the balance of harms outweighs the benefits of breast screening, I will have no hesitation in referring the findings to the UK National Screening Committee and then ministers. I am fully committed to the public being given information in a format... that enables them to make truly informed choices."

The review will be lead jointly by Professor Richards and Cancer Research UK.The director of health information at CRUK, Sara Hiom, said of the review: "Women need more accurate, evidence-based and clear information to be able to make an informed choice about breast screening. The decision whether to be screened is a personal one, but that decision should be made with all of the potential harms and benefits fully explained." Meanwhile, a Department of Health spokesperson said: "Our advice has not changed - we urge all women to go for breast screening when invited. The best available evidence shows that screening saves lives by detecting cancers earlier than they would otherwise have been."

To listen to Professor Richards speak on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, click here. To read more about the review, please click here.

Radiotherapy and breast cancer recurrence...

The results of a large study into the effects of radiotherapy on the return of breast cancer, funded by Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council, were published this week in The Lancet journal. The data is a collation of the histories of all women who took part in 17 worldwide trials of radiotherapy given to patients after surgery, totalling over 10,000 women. Researcher founds that in the ten years following breast conserving surgery, radiotherapy could cut the rate at which breast cancer recurs by half.

Results showed 10 years after diagnosis, 35 percent of women who hadn't received radiotherapy had a recurrence of breast cancer. In those who had had radiotherapy, breast cancer returned in 19 percent of women. Whilst it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about radiotherapy’s effect on improving survival rates, the research suggests that by 15 years after diagnosis, 25 per cent of those who did not undergo the treatment had died, compared with 21 per cent of women who had had radiotherapy.

Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, said of the study’s results: "This research confirms the lasting benefit of radiotherapy treatment after breast conserving surgery for women with breast cancer. It appears to be equally effective across all breast cancers, with most women benefitting when the risk of recurrence is highest - younger women and those with high-grade tumours. Radiotherapy is a vital cancer treatment.”

To read more, click here.

Laura Smith 28th October 2011

On the pulse - 21st October 2011

On the pulse...

Cancerkin's News Update.....


An evening at the theatre approaches...

Cancerkin’s final event to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month is nearly here – a night at the theatre for a performance of ‘The Last of The Duchess’ starring Sheila Hancock. We are looking forward to seeing our theatre goers down at the Hampstead Theatre on Monday 31st October 2011.

There will be an interval raffle on the evening with fantastic prizes, including a stay in a villa in Portugal, gifts from Floris London, dinner at Bradley’s restaurant and a hair cut at Daniel Adams Hairdressers. Tickets will be on sale throughout the reception at £5 each or 5 for £20, so do come prepared!



New patient support group speaker...

We have a new speaker for our patient support group next week on Tuesday 25th October 2011. Nutritional therapist Marta Vazquez will speak about nutrition, diet and healthy living from 11am to 12pm, followed by a talk from our experienced patients Judy and Janet from 12pm to 1pm. For more information, please contact Una on u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk or 0207 830 2323.


Cancerkin & Maggie’s Centre ‘Getting Started with Cancer Treatment’ Workshop

Cancerkin will be hosting cancer support service Maggie’s ‘Getting Started with Cancer Treatment’ workshop on Monday 31st October from 10:30am to 1:30pm. The workshop has been specifically designed by the team at Maggie’s for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer within the last twelve months. It aims to help with a better understanding of treatment, managing side effects and being as healthy in mind and body as possible during and after treatment. The workshop will be led by one of Maggie’s Cancer Support Specialists. Places are limited, so if you would like to attend, please contact Una on 020 7830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.


Lymphoedema clinic new recruit...

Cancerkin would like to introduce a new member of its lymphoedema clinic team, Kathy Ashun. Kathy will be volunteering at the clinic, helping with administration and greeting patients. Do say hello to her if you see her around the centre. Welcome Kathy!


In the News.....


Breast cancer risk over 70…

A third of the 48,000 breast cancer diagnoses made a year in Britain fall within the over 70's age category. Increasing age is the most significant risk factor for developing breast cancer but is often the risk most overlooked by women. A poll by Breast Cancer Campaign has revealed an alarming number of older women are unaware of their risks of developing breast cancer.

The survey revealed that only 1 in 50 women aged over 70 realised they are the age group with the highest risk. Many wrongly thought that women aged 40 to 59 are at greatest risk of developing the disease. It also found that only half of those over 70 were aware that although they do not get routinely invited to an NHS breast screening appointment, they are entitled to request one. According to the poll only 1 in 7 women had attended a screening since turning 71.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Campaign, stressed that better awareness and education is needed about age as an increasing risk factor and about breast screening programmes. She said: “We read daily about different risk factors for breast cancer including alcohol and weight. While these are important, age is the most significant risk factor of all and yet women, including those most likely to be affected, remain in the dark about this [...] It is absolutely vital that women of this age are better informed about their risk and the steps they can take to ensure their breast health is a priority.”

For more information about NHS breast screening please click here. For more on this story, go to The Telegraph and The Daily Mail.


New test predicts chance of breast cancer return...

A new test has been developed by Breakthrough Breast Cancer scientists that helps identify whether women diagnosed with ER positive breast cancer are at risk of the disease returning. This type of cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease, accounting for over three quarters (37,000) of all cases a year in the UK.

When a patient is diagnosed with ER positive breast cancer, their tumour is removed through surgery and they are then treated with hormone therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells and to reduce the risk of recurrence. Based on an assessment of the tumour, they may also be given chemotherapy to further reduce the risk. In around 12,000 cases, it is not possible to clearly determine whether a patient should or should not receive chemotherapy. Rather than run the risk of not giving a patient treatment that is actually needed, chemotherapy will be given in this situation.

While effective at preventing a return of the cancer, chemotherapy is known for its unpleasant side effects, including hair loss, lethargy, and risk of infection and blood clots. The newly developed test may be able to save many women who fall into the ‘unclear’ category from undergoing unnecessary and unpleasant chemo, by allowing doctors to make a much more certain decision on the treatment they require. The test measures the levels of key four proteins in ER positive breast cancer (ER, PR, HER2 and Ki67) to determine the risk of recurrence. It uses technology already available in almost all NHS laboratories and should cost a tenth of the only existing alternative, Oncotype DX, which is only available in one US lab and costs £2,500 for private UK patients.

Professor Mitch Dowsett from the Institute for Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden said: “I think it will help about 8,000 women a year make a much more certain decision about their treatment. It will allow us to say about a third of the 12,000 probably do need chemo and about a third probably don't […] It is a major step towards more personalised and targeted treatment of breast cancer, which will mean that women can avoid unnecessary chemotherapy and its toxic side effects."

To read more, click here or here.


Laura Smith 21st October 2011
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse - 14th October 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....


Breast cancer awareness month at Cancerkin...


Cancerkin has been busy helping to promote and celebrate the message of breast awareness this October.

Last Friday, our East London Project Team was at the Bromley-By-Bow Community Centre to hold a breast awareness stall alongside its monthly complementary session for women with breast cancer. They handed out information and answered questions on being breast aware along with free pink iced cupcakes!

On Wednesday, we held our annual breast awareness stall at the Royal Free Hospital where the brand new edition of our ‘Being Breast Aware: a step-by-step guide to breast awareness’ booklet made its debut. The Cancerkin Team handed out the free publication and gave information to members of the public, patients and hospital staff. Alongside this, there were lots of lovely gifts, books and cakes on sale to raise funds for Cancerkin. We raised a record amount of £1376.

Thank you so much to all those who came along to support us and to those who volunteered their time and gave donations for the stall. We would especially like to thank Heidi Cleveley who donated some fantastic gifts, including tea sets, jewellery boxes and natural soaps. Thank you, Heidi!

As always, we so are grateful to those who support Cancerkin through their own fundraising drives and initiatives. If you would like to organise your own event in honour of Cancerkin during October, here are a few ideas: you could hold a cake sale at work; you could have a car boot sale at the weekend; or you could donate the proceeds of your eBay auction to Cancerkin. If you know of a local business or store that might like to hold a collection can or to plan a fundraiser for Cancerkin, then do get in touch. For more information, please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or 0207 830 2323.


Patient support group – change to schedule...

There has been a change to the schedule of our upcoming patient support group on Tuesday 25th October 2011. Unfortuantely, the talk due to be given by Dietician Katie Walker is being rescheduled to a later date. The October group will now proceed as follows: there will be general group discussion with tea and biscuits from 11am to 12pm, followed by a talk from our experienced patients Judy and Janet from 12pm to 1pm. For more information, please contact Una on u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk or 0207 830 2323.


Creative Writing Workshop in November...

Lily Seibold will be holding another creative writing workshop on Monday 7th November 2011 from 10am to 3pm. The topic of this session is ‘small is beautiful’. Please contact Una on u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk or 0207 830 2323 to reserve your place.


In the News.....


Preventative drugs for high risk women...

Recently On the Pulse reported on current research into the use of existing cancer drugs as preventative treatments for those with a high risk of developing breast cancer. In a Cancer Research UK-funded trial into over 6,000 high risk postmenopausal women with a family history of the disease, researchers are working to find out if the drug anastrozole may help to prevent breast cancer. An interesting article on the topic published this week in The Telegraph looks at the history and the relative risks and benefits of the use of ‘chemoprevention’ treatments. The article asks: if those at risk of heart disease are commonly prescribed drugs like statins to lower their risk, is it possible to take the same approach with cancer?

The risk-lowering potential of breast cancer drugs was first noted in the 1990s when researchers found that women receiving tamoxifen to treat tumours in one breast were less likely to develop them in the other. A 1998 American study also found that in women who had never actually had the disease but who had a family history of breast cancer, risk was cut by almost half when they were prescribed tamoxifen. As a result, the drug was approved for use to prevent breast cancer in the US in the same year. Another trial looked at 19,000 postmenopausal women who were prescribed the drug raloxifene and found it halved the incidence of breast cancer. It was subsequently also licensed for breast cancer prevention.

However, despite the promising results, neither drug has been widely used in this capacity, as both carry a small risk of life-threatening blood clots and other serious side-effects. Two other breast cancer drugs, anastrozole and exemestane, have undergone more recent trials and seem to have fewer serious risks. Side effects such as hot flushes still persist and it is thought that they could lead to a weakening of the bones if taken long-term. Belonging to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors, they are also only suitable for use in postmenopausal women

Chemoprevention is faced with a number of difficult issues. The possible risks pose a dilemma: do the potential risk-lowering benefits of the drugs outweigh the risk of side effects in healthy women? In theory, the drugs are to be aimed at high risk women, that is, women whose mothers or sisters had breast or ovarian cancer by the age of 50 and for whom the benefits would therefore probably outweigh any potential harm. Another problem with the drugs is their lack of immediate, tangible effects, making acceptance by patients and doctors difficult. While the progress of statins used to prevent heart disease can be monitored by reduced cholesterol levels, there is no such marker for breast cancer prevention, only the potential to lower risk. Another major issue in the UK is the absence of regulatory approval for breast cancer prevention drugs and a lack of financial incentive for drugs companies to apply for expensive new marketing licences from EU or UK regulatory bodies.

To read this interesting article in full and find out more about IBIS-II trial into anastrozole, please click here here.


Laura Smith 14th October 2011
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse - 7th October 2011

On the Pulse


Cancerkin's News Update.....


A trip to Floris...

This week, the Cancerkin Team accompanied the three winners of our Hyde Park Walk top fundraisers competition on a trip to Floris, where they were presented with their prizes. Linda Cohen, Debra Franses Bean and Sue Glasser received gifts from Floris and Pizza Express, and were then shown around the historic premises and invited to tea with Marketing Director Edward Bodenham. We would like to thank Floris and Pizza Express for providing the prizes, and to thank Edward on behalf of our winners and our team for his kind hospitality – a lovely afternoon was had by all!


Breast Cancer Awareness month...

Please come and support our annual breast awareness stand on Wednesday 12th October 2011 from 10am to 4pm, outside the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital. We will be handing out information on being breast aware and about Cancerkin’s services and there will be lots of books, gifts and cakes for sale.


Volunteers needed...

We are looking for volunteers to help manage the awareness stall and hold collection tins so please do get in touch if you are able to help. You can contact Laura on 0207 830 2323 or email l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.


October talk…

On Tuesday 25th October at 11am Katie Walker, Clinical Lead Dietician (Nutrition Support) at the Royal Free, will be speaking at our monthly patient support group for those with breast cancer. She will give a talk on healthy eating and take question from the audience on any dietary related queries. If you are interested in attending, please contact Una on u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.


Cancerkin & Maggie’s Centre ‘Getting Started with Cancer Treatment’ Workshop

Cancerkin is very excited to announce a joint venture with cancer support service Maggie’s Centre. Cancerkin will be hosting a ‘Getting Started with Cancer Treatment’ workshop on Monday 31st October from 10:30am to 1:30pm. The workshop has been specifically designed by the team at Maggie’s for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer within the last twelve months. The aim of the workshop is to help with better understanding treatment, managing side effects and being as healthy in mind and body as possible, during and after treatment. The workshop will be led by one of Maggie’s Cancer Support Specialists. Places are limited, so if you would like to attend, please contact Una on 020 7830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.



In the News.....


Beta-blockers and breast cancer....

An increasing amount of research is being done into understanding and finding effective ways to prevent breast cancer spread. Whilst most women will be successfully treated for the initial breast tumour, in around 30 percent of cases, metastasis will then occur when cells leave the original tumour and move around the body.

A recent Cancer Research UK study to investigate whether beta-blockers may be able to prevent breast cancer from spreading and improve survival has shown promising results. Beta-blockers are drugs routinely used to treat high blood pressure and anxiety. Previous research into the drugs and their possible uses in the treatment of breast cancer published last year found that breast cancer patients taking beta-blockers before their operation had a greater likelihood of survival several years after their treatment. The latest research is built on earlier findings of a mechanism in which beta-blockers can potentially stop cells moving and thus cancer from spreading.

Scientists working on the trial are excited about taking this research further to see whether beta-blockers actually do improve survival in a large population of breast cancer patients. Dr Des Powe, Cancer Research UK-funded scientist from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said of the study: “This study will be sufficiently large to determine whether we should progress to clinical trials and identify which type of beta-blockers have the strongest effect.” Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “As beta-blockers are already a known drug this could be a very interesting development, which has the potential to save a large number of lives and we hope to have to see study results within the next year.”

To find out more, click here.


The pain of male breast cancer…

On Wednesday this week, BBC4 reported on new research conducted for healthtalkonline.org showing that men with breast cancer suffer avoidable isolation and embarrassment because of the wide-spread belief that only women get the disease.

Leading the research, Professor Kate Hunt of the Medical Research Council’s Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, commented that the ‘pinking’ of breast cancer has become a universal sign of support for breast cancer research in October. However she commented that ‘some blue in those pink bows’ would help to remind everyone that men get breast cancer too.

About 350 men in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, compared to approximately 48000 women. Men, however, tend to be diagnosed with more advanced breast cancer, at older ages and with lower survival rates. Whilst a man is seven times more likely to develop testicular cancer every year, in comparison to breast cancer, the mortality rate is the same.

BBC4 reported that the symptoms for men are the same as for women – a lump, inverted nipple and sometimes discharge. They also reported that men often suffer from some of the same experiences as women during treatment such as hot flushes, loss of libido and weight gain.

The research is expected to go live on healthtalkonline.org on October 20 and will include interviews with men who have had breast cancer as well as information on the condition.

To find out more, click here.


Laura Smith 7th October 2011
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....


Being breast aware...

As you will know, Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October is now just around the corner. To mark the occasion, Cancerkin is releasing the latest version of its ‘Being Breast Aware’ leaflet, a free publication that gives guidance on how and why we check our breasts. It will be handed out at our Breast Awareness stall on Wednesday 12th October 2011 outside the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital. We will also have books, gifts and cakes on offer on the day to raise funds for Cancerkin. The booklet will then be available from our centre from that date on, so please make sure you ask for your free copy!


The latest from East London...

Today, Cancerkin once again visited St Joseph’s Hospice for our monthly complementary therapy session. Our patients took part in dance, art therapy and yoga classes and were able to benefit from individual sessions in reiki, reflexology and massage. The next session will take place on Friday 7th October 2011 at the Bromley-By-Bow Community Centre, and will include a breast awareness stall with information on how to be breast aware. Cupcakes will be provided! To find our more, please contact Asini on a.wijewardane@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.


Thank you, Karen!

This week we would like to say a big thank you to Karen Bernard for hosting a relaxation workshop at our patient support group on Tuesday. Karen, one of Cancerkin’s massage therapists, also specialises in guided relaxation and led a packed out session with 25 patients at the monthly meeting. Feedback has been extremely positive and we are so grateful to Karen for sharing her time and expertise with us.


In the News.....


New radiotherapy study...

Chemotherapy is usually given after breast cancer surgery, followed by radiotherapy. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment serve to destroy any remaining cancerous cells left in the breast, chest wall and underarm. However, the suitable timing of radiotherapy with chemotherapy has long been debated by cancer experts.

A recent Cancer Research UK study has shown that giving radiotherapy between or during chemotherapy cycles, a process known as synchronous chemoradiation, to women with early breast cancer can significantly reduce the risk of the disease returning. The trial involved 2,296 women who had undergone tumour removal surgery or a mastectomy. Synchronous chemoradiation reduced the risk of cancer returning by 35 percent among women in the early stages of the disease, without worsening the side effects. Researchers found that after eight years of treatment, cancer returned in the breast or chest wall of 41 of the patients who were given the synchronised treatment. Compared with the 63 patients whose cancer returned and who had received the standard sequence of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the number of recurring breast cancers after synchronous chemoradiation is significantly lower.

It is thought that not only could these findings be important for obtaining the best outcomes in breast cancer treatment, they may also be significant to the improvement of quality of life and length of disruptive treatment for patients. Study leader Dr Indrajit Fernando, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said of the study: "Shortening the overall treatment time may mean that when patients have finished their last chemotherapy course they can return to their normal life without having to then complete their radiotherapy. This may also have economic benefits in terms of when patients can return to work." In response to the trial’s possible implications for patients with a recurrence, Liz Woolf, head of CancerHelp UK, said: “Breast cancer that has come back after treatment is always harder to treat and it’s encouraging to hear that giving radiotherapy and chemotherapy together can reduce the likelihood of this, without worsening the side effects.”

To read more on the topic, please click here.


Possible new treatment option for aggressive breast cancers...

HER2-positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of the disease diagnosed in around 10,000 British women every year, amounting to around 20 percent of all breast cancer cases annually. Early trials into a new drug suggest that it may help to slow the growth of these tumours when teamed with the already widely used drug Herceptin, providing a possible new treatment option for patients. The results are encouraging but scientists have been quick to emphasise that further trials are needed before the drug is considered as a viable treatment.

During the trial, doctors at hospitals across the world, including those in Manchester, Newcastle and Bournemouth in the UK, administered the new therapy to 137 breast cancer patients. The treatment is an injection that combines Heceptin with an antibody drug. Proteins in the drug seek out tumours and toxins are then released only once inside cancer cells, reducing the damage to healthy tissue. Results showed that the treatment seemed to halt the progression of the disease for longer than conventional drugs. On average, patients given the new therapy lived for 14 months without their cancer getting worse, whilst those given normal chemotherapy lived for nine month without any deterioration. The study also founds patients experienced fewer dangerous side-effects than with standard treatments.

A further clinical trial in now being conducted on at least 1,000 women in over 20 countries and results are expected in two years. Nell Barrie of Cancer Research UK said: "This approach combines two effective treatments but until we have results from larger, longer term trials we won't know for sure how beneficial this could be for patients with this particular type of breast cancer." Dr Rachel Greig of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity said: "This new drug may keep cancer at bay for longer than standard treatments with fewer side effects which crucially could offer patients a better quality of life. It’s important to emphasise this drug is still in trials and some years away from potentially being made available on the NHS.”

To read more, please click here.


Laura Smith
30th September 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news…

Cancerkin needs you...

Our annual breast awareness stand will be on Wednesday 12th October 2011 from 10am to 4pm, outside the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital. We will be handing out information on being breast aware and about Cancerkin’s services and there will be lots of books, gifts and cakes for sale. We are looking for volunteers to hold collection tins and to help manage the stall so please do get in touch if you are able to help. You can contact Laura on 0207 830 2323 or email l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk. We hope you’ll be able to come along and support us!


Kate’s Journal...

Events of all kinds will be taking place during October to promote the message of being breast aware. One event that may be of particular interest features an exhibition of photographic images of Cancerkin patient Kate Sims. Photographer Astrid Schultz documented Kate’s journey through treatment and has produced a series of compelling and powerful images that will be on show at the Underground Gallery on the Strand from 17 – 22 October 2011. The exhibition, located at Charing Cross Underground station Exit 9, is open daily from 12pm to 6pm and will also feature talks on emotional support and image advice for breast cancer patients, as well as the opportunity to be photographed yourself. If you have any enquiries, please contact Jessica on jbavinton@me.com or 07968 006 284.


New additions...

This week, we are pleased to welcome three new Interns to the Cancerkin team. Events and Fundraising Intern Laura Pierce will be helping with work on our events. East London Project Interns Cherry Cheung and Eru Edewor will be helping with the development of our outreach project to the communities of East London. If you have any questions for them, please email intern@cancerkin.org.uk.


In the news…

Linking alcohol and breast cancer…

Much is written about the links between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk. New findings from a US laboratory study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research reveal how the breakdown of alcohol in human cells may result in DNA damage linked to a number of cell changes that cause cancer. This breakthrough is particularly important to breast and liver cancer susceptibility and emphasises that groundbreaking research into alcohol and cancer is progressing quickly. The article helpfully outlines the laboratory study that is building upon our previously limited knowledge of the effects of alcohol as a carcinogen within human cells.

The study shows that when alcohol or more specifically ethanol, the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, is converted within human cells to a chemical called acetaldehyde the resulting DNA damage directly affects a collection of proteins called the ‘FA-BRCA network (Fanconic anemia-breast cancer).’ Previous studies have shown that the FA-BRCA network is particularly important in protecting against breast cancer. Laboratory results confirmed that when the ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde it causes increased levels of DNA damage as well as switching on the cell’s DNA repair genes.

The study’s author Philip J Brooks explains: “Although the link between drinking alcohol and certain types of cancer was first established in the 1980’s the existence of such a relationship did not prove that alcohol itself caused the cancers. More recent evidence however has confirmed that alcohol, or more specifically ethanol, is carcinogenic to humans at several sites in the body.” He concludes that this research brings us a step closer to understanding the ways in which alcohol contributes to the development of breast and liver cancers. As a result of these finding, further research into the relationship between alcohol metabolism, the FA-BRCA network and human health will become increasingly important in the future.

To read more on the topic, please click here.


Significant discovery in male breast cancer…

Breast cancer is often thought of as a condition that only affects women. It is important to highlight however that men can also develop the disease. Around 48,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year, and although it is far less prevalent in men, there are around 300 cases of male breast cancer each year. There is a limited amount known about male breast cancer, whether it is similar to breast cancer in women, or whether it is something different altogether.

In an attempt to find out more about the genes implicated in the disease, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have been collaborating on research into male breast cancer and have discovered similarities with the female disease. Using data taken from the Male Breast Cancer Study, the research team studied 433 male breast cancer cases and looked at the 12 most common genes that contribute to the risk of female breast cancer. They learned that five of the genes also significantly affected risk in men. However, the extent of the risk was different between males and females. One of the first of its kind, the study’s results have been published in the journal PLoS Genetics.

Whilst this study is still in its early stages and there is still much more to learn, Dr Nick Orr from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre hopes that these results could potentially lead to tailored treatments for male breast cancer patients. The team also believe it will improve knowledge of the genetic factors of female breast cancer.

To read more on this topic, please click here.


Breast cancer screening debate…

As you may well be aware, recent claims over the effectiveness of breast cancer screening programmes have unleashed fierce debate within the scientific community about whether or not women should take up their invitation to have a mammogram once every three years. Whilst the NHS states their programme is responsible for saving around 1300 lives a year, recent research claims that women may be being misled about the health benefits of screening.

In response, there has been lively discussion of the claims in the press. If you are interested in reading more, The Guardian , The Daily Mail and The Independent all examine the claims made by the recently published research in more detail.

Laura Smith
23rd September 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news…


September Talk…

Karen Bernard is known to many of our patients as one of Cancerkin’s massage therapists. On Tuesday September 27th at 11am, Karen will be speaking to our monthly patient support group about the benefits of relaxation in relieving stress and improving overall wellbeing. She will lead the group on an exercise in guided relaxation to show how, with regular practice, anyone can use these techniques in their everyday life to create a more relaxed mind and body. If you are interested in attending, please contact Una on u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.


Cancerkin’s East London Project Update…

Last Friday, we returned to the Bromley by Bow Centre with women benefiting from a range of Cancerkin’s individual and group therapies along with breast awareness sessions throughout the day for those visiting the centre. Feedback continues to be overwhelmingly positive from the sessions at both our venues in East London, and we would like to thank the wonderful staff at St Joseph’s Hospice and the Bromley by Bow Centre for their continued support.

This week, we were also invited to give two presentations at the University of East London in order to recruit students to be trained for our upcoming awareness project. The students were extremely enthusiastic and passionate about the project. We would also like to thank the staff at the university for all their help and support.


In the news…


Breast Cancer found to develop earlier in today’s generation of women with BRCA gene...

A study published this week in the journal Cancer and cited in ThirdAge has reported that breast cancer develops years earlier in women with BRCA-1 or -2 mutations compared to their relatives in previous generations.

The study, conducted by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, found that of the 132 female participants who had breast cancer and BRCA gene mutations, 106 had a family member in the previous generation that had also been diagnosed with BRCA breast or ovarian related cancer. When they looked at the average age each generation was diagnosed with breast cancer, they found it went from age 48 in the older generation to 42 in the younger generation.

Dr Jennifer Litton, breast medical oncologist at the University of Texas, commented that whilst women with a known BRCA -1 or -2 gene develop cancers earlier than the rest of the population, it is still unclear as to why the disease develops earlier in the younger generation. Dr Litton hopes to extend the study to larger groups of women to determine whether the cause is environmental or due to better testing.

However, Dr Litten believes this study “validates a lot of the guidelines out there for us to start looking at least five to ten years earlier than the youngest diagnosis in the family”.

To read more on this topic, please click here.


Breast and Cervical Cancer on the rise in Developing Countries...

The first ever global review of the scale of breast and cervical cancer has reported that about two million women are developing breast or cervical cancer every year.

Reported in the Guardian this week, the analysis from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation has found that much of the growth in numbers is in poorer countries and that breast cancer in particular is growing in women aged 15 to 49.

The review warns that deaths from breast and cervical cancer could soon overtake deaths in pregnancy and childbirth as a leading cause of mortality in the developing world. The review comments that “as high-income countries enjoy the benefit of early cancer screenings, drug therapies and vaccines, the burden of breast and cervical cancer is shifting to low-income countries in Africa and Asia... adding more pressure on societies already suffering from high rates of infectious disease and child mortality”.

The review calculates that breast cancer diagnosis has increased by more than two and a half times between 1980 and 2010, from 641 000 to 1.6 million a year. Whilst the rise is happening in every country, cases have risen slowest in wealthier, developed countries. As Christopher Murray, lead author of the review, commented; “there is a perception that breast cancer is a disease of older women in developed countries... part of the analysis says it is already a big issue for younger women in the developing world. In many countries it may be a bigger issue than maternal mortality”.

The review has been published ahead of a high-level summit on non-communicable or ‘lifestyle’ diseases due to take place next week at the UN in New York, which aims to focus world leaders’ attention on a plan to bring the mortality rate numbers down.

To read more on this topic, please click here.

Laura Smith
16th September 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....


Joy’s marathon fundraiser...

This week, Cancerkin would like to say a hug thank you to Joy Okoye who ran the Neolithic marathon earlier this year to raise funds for charity. Joy decided to run in honour of four different charities and chose Cancerkin to be a lucky recipient of her fundraising efforts. After months of training for the 26 mile run and lots of hard work canvassing and chasing sponsorship, Joy raised a grand total of £1,507 for Cancerkin – well done and thank you, Joy!


Patient forum at the Royal Free…

The Royal Free Hospital is inviting its staff and patients to attend a forum next week to discuss patient experience from both the staff and patient perspective. Workshops will take place on 14 September at 9.30am – 12 noon or 5 – 7.30pm, 15 September at 9.30am – 12 noon or 2.30 – 5pm and 20 September at 9.30am – 12 noon. The workshops will take place in the Sir William Wells Atrium, each lasting two hours, and refreshments will be provided. To reserve a space please contact Hayley White on 020 77940500 x35965 or email rfh.patientexperience@nhs.net.

October talk…

On Tuesday 25th October at 11am Katie Walker, Clinical Lead Dietician (Nutrition Support) at the Royal Free, will be speaking at our monthly patient support group for those with breast cancer. She will give a talk on healthy eating and take question from the audience on any dietary related queries. If you are interested in attending, please contact Una on u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.


‘The Last of the Duchess’ sold out…

Just to remind you, tickets for the ‘The Last of the Duchess’ in October have now sold out. Please do not send anymore ticket request forms to the Cancerkin Office as we will be unable to process them.


Yoga classes at Cancerkin…

Please note, there will be no yoga class taking place on Friday 16th September 2011. Classes will resume the following Friday, 23rd September 2011.


In the News.....


Breast density and cancer risk explained...

An interesting article on breast density was recently posted on the Komen for the Cure website. Research had shown that breast density is linked to breast cancer risk but it is still unclear exactly how the two are linked. This article helpfully outlines what we know about breast density as well as highlighting what remains to be investigated.

As the article tells us, the breast is made up mostly of fat and breast tissue. Breast tissue itself is the network of lobules and ducts that produce and carry milk to the nipple when a woman is breastfeeding, all held in place by connective tissue. Breast density is a measure of the composition of the breast, taken by comparing the area of breast and connective tissue to the area of fat as seen on a mammogram. The greater the area of breast and connective tissue in comparison with fat, the higher the breast density. This is currently measured by visual assessment of the mammogram by a radiologist through a variety of methods. The issue here is that such assessments are subjective and the best way to measure breast density remains an active area of research.

We know that women with very high breast density are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Those with a high density are four or five times more likely to develop breast cancer that those of a low density. It is not yet known, however, why this is related to breast cancer. Many factors affecting the disease also affect breast density, which may help to explain how density increases breast cancer risk: We know that some breast cancers are due to genetic predisposition, and breast density also seems to runs in families. There are studies being conducted into specific genes that may be linked to density. We know that pregnancy decreases breast density as well as decreasing breast cancer risk. The more children a woman has, the less dense her breasts are and also the lower her risk of developing the disease. Age is also an influencing factor – hormone changes during menopause cause a decrease in density and younger premenopausal women generally have denser breasts. However, we also know that breast cancer risk increases with age. Both density and risk are also related to body weight. Women with a higher body weight in adolescence and adulthood tend to have a lower breast density. A higher weight before the menopause may help decrease breast cancer risk, but after menopause obesity or being overweigh increases risk. The influence of age and weight are both topics currently under study.

Dense breast tissue poses problems in terms of breast screening. Breast fat appears dark on a mammogram and denser breast and connective tissues look light grey or white. Tumours can also appear white, making mammograms more difficult to assess when breast tissue is dense. Digital mammography on a computer screen makes images easier to examine in more detail, making them better at finding tumours in women with dense breasts. MRI and Ultrasound are also being investigated as potential tools for screening women with high density breasts.

To read more on this topic, please click here.


Laura Smith
9th September 2011