Cancerkin's News Update.....

‘The Last of the Duchess’ tickets…

We have a limited number of tickets left for Cancerkin’s evening at the Hampstead Theatre for a performance of ‘The Last of the Duchess’ on 31st October 2011. To buy tickets, you can call Laura on 020 7830 2323, or you can complete a ticket form, which you will have received in the post or which you can download from our website.

Cancerkin’s top fundraisers…

We have counted up all the sponsorship raised by our amazing 2011 Hyde Park Walkers and we are now pleased to announce the winners of the top three fundraising spots (drum roll please!): in first place, raising over £3,000, is Linda Cohen. A very close second is Debra Franses-Bean, who raised just over £2,700, and in third place is Sue Glasser, with just over £2,500. Well done to these wonderful women – we are so grateful for all the time and hard work they have put in. Thank you so much!

Cancerkin would also like to give a special mention this week to another of its supporters, Daniel Taylor, who has raised £744 for Cancerkin in a rather unusual way. Dan agreed to wax off his beard in aid of Cancerkin and for his legs to undergo the same treatment. We commend Dan for his bravery and thank him for all the effort he put into his fundraising. Well done and thank you Dan!

If you are interested in getting involved with fundraising for Cancerkin (but in a slightly less painful way!), there are plenty of things that you might like to do. You could organise a car boot sale, a coffee morning, an ‘own clothes day’ at your children’s school, a sponsored cycle or even a marathon. We are always here to help with your ideas and give advice on how best to maximise your fundraising efforts. Please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk if you would like to discuss an idea – we would love to hear from you!

Therapies update…

The Cancerkin Centre will be closed for the Bank Holiday next Monday 29th August, so there will be no activities taking place. We will re-open on Tuesday 30th as usual but please note there will be no patient support group on this day.

On 19th September 2011 from 10am – 3pm, Lily Seibold will be hosting a creative writing class focusing on the theme of ‘September.’ If you are interested in attending, please contact Una on u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk or 0207 830 2323.

In the News.....

“Golden Era” of cancer research as new genetics study is launched...

An important trial that will genetically test the tumours of 9,000 newly diagnosed breast, bowel, lung, prostate, melanoma and ovarian cancer patients is about to be launched next month in seven UK hospitals. The study will aim to find out which existing cancer drugs work on tumours according to their genetic make up and to identify new treatments that are personalised to each individual’s cancer. Most medicines work for certain people and not for others, and will perhaps work for only a small number. This is certainly true of cancer treatments and the study hopes to find out why. Each individual’s DNA is different and so is that of their cancer tumours, and this influences which drugs will work and how effective chemotherapy and radiation will be.

During the study, each tumour will undergo a series of genetic tests. Some tests, such as that for the HER2 enzyme which indicates whether breast cancer patients will respond to Herceptin, are already widely used, but others are not. The trial will test how feasible it is to introduce genetic tests for all cancer patients. It will also provide a database for future research by following patients’ progress. It may even identify certain drugs which have fallen out of use because of their small impact on large groups but which may now be beneficial to certain patients.

In reaction to the study, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK Harpal Kumar described research into the disease being in a ‘golden era’. He described "an explosion in our understanding of what cancer is, why it happens, why it doesn't happen in some people and why it moves around the body." He said of the trial: "People have known for years that we give treatment and it is only going to work for 20% of people and we are now on the cusp of finding out what is going on."

To read more from The Guardian, please click here.

Natural bacteria may help block cancer growth...

Another new piece of research published this week in journal Nature Chemistry has found that a naturally occurring molecule in bacteria can help switch off the growth of breast cancer cells. The molecule, named thiostrepton, blocks the cancer causing protein FOXM1. The protein is responsible for switching on genes that control breast cancer cell growth and division, causing tumours to grow and spread. Blocking the protein can therefore help to prevent the development and growth of cancer cells. Scientists hope that the molecule will eventually lead to new treatment options for breast cancer patients.

The study’s lead author, Professor Shankar Balasubramanian, from Cancer Research UK said of the discovery: "Before this research we weren't aware of any natural product which could directly target a protein that controls gene activity. Yet intriguingly a molecule in bacteria – which also has strong antibiotic effects – does this very well, switching off cancer-causing genes in breast cancer cells."

Dr Lesley Walker, CRUK’s director of cancer information, said: "It's fascinating to discover how a simple bacteria could hold the key to powerful new approaches to treat breast cancer developing and spreading."

To read the full article in The Independent, please click here.

Laura Smith
26th August 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....


Latest on Hyde Park Walk 2011...

The last few envelopes of Hyde Park Walk sponsorship money have been arriving at the Cancerkin Office all week. We are pleased to announce that the total raised for this year’s sponsored walk around The Serpentine Lake is an amazing £36,514.52! Thank you so much to everyone who took part and worked so hard to contribute to this fantastic grand total. Thank you also to all those that were unable to attend but who generously donated to Cancerkin instead. Well done to everyone on another successful year!

As promised, we will very shortly be announcing the top three fundraisers who will be awarded prizes from Floris and Pizza Express. Look out for the announcement in next week’s edition – it could be you!


Cancerkin at the theatre…

There are still tickets available for Cancerkin’s special evening at the Hampstead Theatre for a performance of ‘The Last of the Duchess’ on 31st October 2011. The play focuses on the final days of the controversial Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, spent in her household in Versailles, and features Sheila Hancock and Anna Chancellor.

To buy tickets at £40 each, you can call Laura on 020 7830 2323, or you can complete a ticket form, which you will shortly receive in the post or which you can download from our website. Seats are limited so book early to avoid disappointment!


East London Internship…

Applications for Cancerkin’s East London Project Internship are still open. Please send a CV and covering letter to Asini at a.wijewardane@cancerkin.org.uk if you would like to apply. For more details, please visit our website.


In the News.....


Personalised medicine for those with breast cancer gene...

An increasing amount of research is being done into targeted cancer treatments that depend on the genetic makeup of a patient and that of their cancer. This approach is known as personalised medicine. One such trial was launched this week at the Oxford Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre at the University of Oxford. The team of researchers based at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre are leading the study into cancer drug 6MP, to find out if it may benefit those with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. If successful the drug could offer important extra treatment options for patients with certain breast and ovarian cancers caused by faults in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genes are known to significantly increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, with 15 out of every 100 breast and ovarian cancers being caused by BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic faults.

The study will look at cancer drug 6MP, which belongs to a class of drugs known as thiopurines and is currently used to treat leukaemia patients, often given alongside another chemotherapy drug called methotrexate. Earlier laboratory studies into thiopurines have suggested that the drugs are effective at killing cancer cells lacking BRCA genes. The lab studies showed that the drugs may also be effective when cancer cells have developed resistance to other treatments such as PARP inhibitors and cisplatin. If the new study into 6MP and its possible benefits is successful, it will lead to a larger phase III trial in the future.

Trial leader Dr Shibani Nicum, a gynaecology specialist based at the Oxford Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (EMCM) and a researcher in Oxford University’s Department of Oncology, said of the trial: “PARP inhibitors are a powerful new class of drugs developed specifically to target tumours caused by BRCA 1 and BRCA2 faults, but drug resistance remains a problem. We hope that the very encouraging results we have seen in early laboratory studies involving 6MP will lead to increased treatment options for these patients in the future.” Professor Mark Middleton, director of the Oxford ECMC at Oxford University, added: “It’s exciting to see drugs being developed for specific groups of patients who share the same underlying genetic faults in their cancer. Targeted treatments are at the cutting edge of cancer care and we’re proud to be involved in bringing such drugs a step closer to the clinic.”

To read more about the trial on Cancer Research UK’s website, please click here.

Laura Smith
19th August 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....

Update on East London...

We are thrilled to announce that our six newly trained East London volunteers are about to graduate as fully-fledged Experienced Patients (EPs). Since completing their formal training early this year, our six lovely ladies have been shadowing Cancerkin’s existing EPs here at the Royal Free. They are now almost ready to begin work in East London and will provide a network of support and hand-holding to women with breast cancer, their friends and family. This service is free and open to anyone. Please contact Asini on 0207 830 2323 or a.wijewardane@cancerkin.org.uk to find out more.

Today, Cancerkin returned to the Bromley-By-Bow Community Centre for another monthly complementary therapy session, where patients were able to meet and talk to each other and take part in a yoga class. Breast Awareness information was also handed out during the session. We will also be at St Joseph’s Hospice on Friday 26th August for another session during which our East London EP’s will be presented with certificates to mark their graduation. Congratulations to them all!

Thank you Cancerkin fundraisers!

In July, one of our fantastic supporters, Lindsay Lehane, held a yard sale in aid of Cancerkin and raised a very impressive £192. Well done and thank you, Lindsay! We are always so touched when people think of us when they are holding such events and we’re truly grateful that our supporters are out there spreading the word about the work we do.

If you are interested in holding your own fundraiser, why not get in touch? You might want to have a clear out and raise funds at a yard sale, bring-and-buy or car boot, or you might like to get your friends together and hold a coffee morning or a dinner party. Please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk if you would like to discuss an idea – we would love to hear from you!

‘The Last of the Duchess’ tickets…

Tickets are selling fast for Cancerkin’s special evening at the Hampstead Theatre for a performance of ‘The Last of the Duchess’ on 31st October 2011. To buy tickets, you can call Laura on 020 7830 2323, or you can complete a ticket form, which you will shortly receive in the post or which you can download from our website. Seats are limited so book early to avoid disappointment!

Hyde Park Walk sponsorship…

Just a reminder that the deadline for sponsorship monies to be received by the Cancerkin office is this Monday 15th August. Please remember to make all cheques payable to Cancerkin and avoid sending cash in the post. Please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk if you have any queries.

Internships at Cancerkin…

Applications for our internships close this Monday, 15th August. To apply, please send a covering letter and CV to either Laura Smith for the Events, Fundraising and Promotions Internship at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk, or to Asini for the East London Project Internship at a.wijewardane@cancerkin.org.uk. For more details, please visit our website.

Patient support groups at Cancerkin…

There will be no patient support group taking place during August. Our next group will be on Tuesday 27th September from 11am to 1pm.

In the News.....

Exercise and cancer care...

The impact that physical activity can have on cancer patients is the subject of frequent studies and much press coverage. For example, in May we reported on a study into the positive effects of yoga for breast cancer patients, showing how it helped counter the side-effects of treatment such as fatigue. Yoga is but one of the exercise and movement classes Cancerkin offers – over the years we have introduced sessions in Tai Chi, Pilates, Kundalini yoga, Nia Technique, dance and drama, which are open to everyone and are completely free of charge.

An interesting new report published this week by Macmillan Cancer Support shows that exercise can not only help cancer patients cope with the side-effects of treatment but can help lower the chance of developing other conditions such as heart disease and may reduce the risk of dying from cancer. As the report explains, previous research suggests that staying active can help patients overcome fatigue and weight gain and that exercising to the recommended level can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. For example, studies have suggested that the risk of breast cancer recurring can be reduced by up to 40 percent.

Whilst cancer patients have been advised in the past to rest after treatment, the report states that moderate physical activity is both safe and advisable during and after treatment for most kinds of cancer. It recommends that all patients being treated for cancer should aim to do two and a half hours of physical activity each week, as currently advised by Department of Health guidelines. This activity does not need to be strenuous and may include taking a brisk walk or doing the gardening.

To read more, please click here. If you are interested in finding our more about the classes Cancerkin offers, please contact Una on u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.

Laura Smith

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....



Cancerkin theatre tickets on sale now…


Tickets are now on sale for Cancerkin’s special evening at the theatre on 31st October 2011. Cancerkin will host a performance of new play ‘The Last of The Duchess’ at the Hampstead Theatre in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The play focuses on the final days of the controversial Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, spent in her household in Versailles, and features Sheila Hancock and Anna Chancellor. We hope you will join us for an unforgettable evening!


There are two ways that you can buy tickets at £40 each: you can call Laura on 020 7830 2323, or you can complete a ticket form, which you will shortly receive in the post or that can be downloaded from our website. Seats are limited so book early to avoid disappointment!


If you are interested in helping with the event, we are currently in need of volunteers to stuff envelopes. Please contact Laura on 0207 830 2323 orl.smith@cancerkin.org.uk. Tea and biscuits will be provided!



Thank you, Waitrose!

Cancerkin was selected as one of three charities to take part in the Waitrose ‘Community Matters’ giving initiative at their John Barnes Store on Finchley Road throughout June. Using tokens provided at the till, shoppers decided how much of a £1,000 total was given to each charity, which were nominated by their own customers. Thank you to the wonderful Dee Grandison for putting us forward! The shoppers have spoken and a grand total of £548 was raised for Cancerkin – thank you, Waitrose, for your generosity.



Hyde Park Walk sponsorship…


Just a reminder that the deadline for sponsorship monies to be received by the Cancerkin office is Monday 15th August. Please remember to make all cheques payable to Cancerkin and avoid sending cash in the post. Please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk if you have any queries.



Internships at Cancerkin…


We are still taking applications for the East London Project Internship and the Events, Fundraising and Promotions Internship. If you are interested in applying, please send a covering letter and up-to-date CV to either Laura Smith for the Events, Fundraising and Promotions Internship, at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk, or to Asini for the East London Project Internship ata.wijewardane@cancerkin.org.uk. For more details, please visit our website. The deadline for applications is Monday 15th August 2011.



In the News.....



Research into the impact of breast cancer screening...


Currently in the UK, every woman aged 50 to 70 is invited to have a mammogram every three years, in line with the NHS’s cancer screening programme. Women over 70 can currently request screenings every three years and the programme is in the process of being extended to include those aged 47 to 73. The Department of Health estimates that around 13,500 of the 48,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the UK each year are picked up by the screening programme and it is said that it saves around 1,400 lives a year. Breast cancer mortality rates have decreased in recent decades, but new research conducted by a group of international cancer experts has suggested that breast cancer screening has had little impact on this.


Using data from The World Health Organisation, a group of scientists from France, the UK and Norway compared the decreasing death rates of three pairs of countries, with the first country in each pair having introduced breast screening ten to fifteen years before the second. Northern Ireland was compared with the Republic of Ireland, Sweden with Norway, and the Netherlands with Belgium and Flanders. They found that from 1989 to 2006 death rates decreased by 29 percent in Northern Ireland compared with 26 percent in the Irish Republic. They decreased by 16 percent in Sweden compared with 24 percent in Norway and by 25 percent in the Netherlands in comparison with 25 percent in Flanders. As a result, researchers have come to the conclusion that screening has not played a direct part in reducing breast cancer mortality rates and can more likely be explained by the development of better treatments and improving health systems in recent years.


In response to the study, Professor Julietta Patnick CBE, director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said: "The best evidence available shows that women aged 50 to 69 who are regularly screened are less likely to die from breast cancer. The World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that there is a 35 per cent reduction in mortality from breast cancer among screened women aged 50 to 69." Rachel Rawson, from the charity Breast Cancer Care, added: "We would encourage women to consider attending routine screening."


Please click to read coverage of the study in The Independent and The Telegraph.


Laura Smith