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