On the pulse


Cancerkin’s news…


Hyde Park Walk 2011 on Sunday 19th June

Yes, it’s that time of year again! Preparations are already underway for Cancerkin’s annual sponsored Hyde Park Walk with this year’s event to take place on Sunday 19th June 2011. We hope to make 2011 the biggest and most successful walk yet, so now is the time tell your families, friends, colleagues and schoolmates to put the date in their diaries – we look forward to getting as many of Cancerkin’s fantastic supporters involved as possible!

The walk is a great fun event for people of all ages and fitness. And it is special too, for as always all walkers are invited to walk in honour or in memory of a loved one if they choose. This year we hope to see whole families – babies in buggies and grandparents included – as well as teams of friends, workmates and community group members, walking, jogging or running round the Serpentine. As you may have noticed, Hyde Park Walk 2011 will fall on Father’s Day this year, so we hope to see plenty of dads walking too!

More details will be sent out soon but in the meantime please feel free to contact Laura if you have any questions or ideas. You can email l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 020 7830 2323.


Kundalini Yoga & Nia Technique

Following her introductory course in December, we are thrilled to announce the return of Beverley Drumm who will be holding Yoga and Nia dance therapy classes on Wednesday afternoons. Classes in Kundalini yoga, a powerful practice where your body is gently stretched and toned, inducing deep relaxation and including postures and meditations specifically for women will take place from 1pm to 2.15pm. Classes in The Nia Technique, an expressive, dance-based movement form that is an exhilarating treat for body, mind and soul, will follow at 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Sessions will begin on 23rd February 2011. Absolutely no experience is necessary and everybody is warmly welcome. To reserve your place, please email Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 020 7830 2323.


Find us on Facebook and Twitter…

If you are already a fan of online social networking sites or you are taking your first steps into the world of Facebook and Twitter, why not head to Cancerkin’s online pages? If you would like to view pictures, read regular news updates and find information about upcoming events, you can ‘like’ our Facebook page here. To receive our regular ‘tweets’, you can follow us on twitter here.


In the news…


Breast cancer risk explained…

Cancer Research UK released new figures last week revealing an increase in the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer for women in the UK – one in eight women will now have the disease at some point during their life. Press coverage of the newly published figures often focused on changing lifestyles as an explanation for increase in risk – for example unhealthy diet, increased alcohol intake and a propensity to have fewer children later in life – and has suggested women could do more to decrease their personal risk, causing some controversy and offence amongst those who have already been diagnosed with the disease. In response to the figures, an interesting article has been published in The Guardian this week which takes a pragmatic look at the contributing factors to breast cancer risk. Drawing on comments made by Jackie Harris, a clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Care, it explains the impact of the three key factors – age, gender and family history – in relation to other contributing factors.

As the article explains, a main factor in breast cancer risk is gender: we know that men can have breast cancer but the disease is clearly predominant in women. Age is a second key determining factor. Cancer is most common in older people and breast cancer in young women is certainly ‘the exception, not the norm.’ The risk at age 29 is one in 2000, one in 215 at 39 and one in 50 at 49 – the figure one in 8 is the overall ‘lifetime risk’ for a woman who has reached 70.This is why screening does not begin until the age of 50. Thirdly, having a significant family history of breast cancer is an important factor. Carriers of the BRAC 1 and 2 genes may have a significantly higher risk of developing the disease. Those who do not carry the gene but do have a family history of breast cancer may also run an increased risk, depending on the age at which family members were diagnosed and whether they were paternal or maternal relatives.

What the article emphasises is that the three main risk factors described above have nothing to do with lifestyle. In terms of lifestyle choices, research shows that drinking alcohol regularly, carrying weight after the menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can all increase risk. It also shows that exercise to keep weight down can cut risk, as can having children, having them early and breastfeeding them. A healthy diet is also advised, although no specific foods are proven to affect breast cancer risk. As Ms Harris points out, leading a healthy lifestyle is a positive step but it is no guarantee against breast cancer. Many women have often lived healthily or had children young but have still developed breast cancer, a fact that explains feelings that press coverage last week was ‘very much blame-centred’. Ms Harris advises women to lead a healthier lifestyle if they want to, but not at the expense of quality of life. Individual risk is complex and difficult to estimate so we are unable to know how much healthy or unhealthy living and certain lifestyle choices impact upon it.

To read this article in full, please click here.



Laura Smith 11th February 2011