On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news…


Hyde Park Walk update...

The big walk round Hyde Park is now just over a week away and the Cancerkin Team is looking forward to seeing you all there! We are still taking last minute entries for the walk on Sunday 19th June so if you have not yet registered, there is still time to do so – just send in your registration form as soon as you can. To download an entry form, please visit our website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at anytime on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.


June lectures at Cancerkin

In June, Cancerkin is pleased to be holding two special events open to all patients and supporters.

On Tuesday 28th June from 11am – 1pm Dr Anmol Malhotra MB BS BSc(Hons) MRCP FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lead at the Royal Free Hospital will give a lecture about recent developments in breast imaging and will take questions from the audience. If you would like to attend, please contact Una on 0207 830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.

On Monday 6 June, Mr Mohammed Keshtgar MBBS BSc FRCSI FRCSC(Gen) PhD, Consultant Surgical Oncologist at the Royal Free and Whittington Hospitals gave a fascinating lecture at the Cancerkin Centre on the topic of ‘Breast cancer management: what the future holds’. Mr Keshtgar explained new research and developments currently being made in the field of breast cancer management before taking a lively question and answer session. We would like to thank him for sharing his time and expertise with us.


Integrated Cancer System Event next week

There will be an Integrated Cancer System event organised by UCL Partners taking place on 14th June from 5.30-7.30pm in the Sheila Sherlock Centre at the Royal Free. Integrated Cancer Systems are replacing the provider components of cancer networks and Tuesday’s event will explain what is happening to them, as well as acting as a public consultation and a chance for attendees to share their views. The event is open to patients and the public. For information and details about how to register, please click here.


Art workshop at Cancerkin

Mary-Anne Paterson will be holding an art therapy workshop this Tuesday, 14th June, 11am to 4pm at the Cancerkin centre. The session is specifically for those who have been to at least one art therapy class before and there will be a charge of £5 per person to cover the costs of materials. If you are interested in attending, please call Una on 0207 830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.


In the news…

Report finds lower breast cancer survival rates amongst poorer women

New research published this week has revealed that poorer women who come from more deprived areas are less likely to survive breast cancer than their more affluent counterparts, due to late diagnosis of the disease. The ‘All Breast Cancer Report’, conducted by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) is the first in-depth analysis in the UK that examines how treatment and the route of diagnosis – either via breast screening or symptoms of breast cancer being presented to a GP – affect the likelihood of surviving the disease in women from different socio-economic backgrounds.

The comprehensive analysis of breast cancer patients examined information on how long women survived and how they were diagnosed, and data regarding their socio-economic background. Within this, women were split into five groups of differing levels of poverty, ranging from the most affluent to the most deprived. There was little difference found between the groups amongst those diagnosed with breast cancer through the national breast cancer screening programmes across the UK. Ninety nine percent of women in the most affluent group survived the disease for at least 5 years compared with 94 percent of those in the most deprived group that were diagnosed in this way. However, a significant difference was found between the groups in patients whose route of diagnosis was via symptoms presented to a doctor, for example in women who found they had a lump and consequently visited a GP. 83 percent of the most affluent group survived for at least five years, in comparison with 68 percent of in the most deprived group of women diagnosed in this way – a difference of 15 percent.

The huge disparity in survival is ascribed to late diagnosis. Through missed screenings, less awareness of breast cancer symptoms or hesitance about seeing a doctor, poorer women have been found to be less likely to survive because they are diagnosed at a later stage when breast cancer is more advanced. Treatment is as a result more aggressive and even the best treatments available are less likely to be successful.

Gill Lawrence, director of the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit and report author, said of its results: “These figures show that even though a greater number of affluent women develop breast cancer every year, poorer women are more likely to die from the disease. Not going for screening and delays in going to the doctor mean that less affluent women are being diagnosed with later stage cancers which need more invasive surgery and are far less likely to be treated with breast conserving surgery. But, if these women attend screening, are breast aware and go to their doctor as soon as they notice anything unusual for them such as a lump or changes to the nipple like a rash or dimpling there’s no reason why poorer women shouldn’t have the same chance of survival as more affluent women.”

To read the NCIN press release click here, or to read the Cancer Research UK science blog, click here. Cancerkin’s East London breast cancer awareness project is very much focused on this disparity of outcomes: the one year breast cancer mortality rate in East London is significantly higher than in more wealthy parts of London.

Laura Smith

10^th June 2011