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

Cancerkin's News Update.....


The last of the tickets…

Tickets are now SOLD OUT for ‘The Last of the Duchess’ on 31st October 2011. We have been so pleased with the response to the event and look forward to seeing you all in October!

All those who have purchased a ticket will receive a letter of confirmation in the coming weeks. You will need to bring this with you on the night. The performance will start at 7.30pm with drinks served for ticket holders from 6.30pm. There will also be a raffle at the interval with fabulous prizes including a holiday in a villa in Portugal. Please contact Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk if you have any questions about the evening.

East London ‘Experienced Patients’…

Friday saw the graduation of our six newly trained ‘Experienced Patients’ who will be forming a network of support in East London for women living with breast cancer. Congratulations to them all once again for completing their formal training. If you are interested in finding out more about our ‘Experienced Patients’, please contact Asini on 0207 830 2323 or a.wijewardane@cancerkin.org.uk.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Cancerkin…

As you may already know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As well as hosting a performance of ‘The Last of the Duchess’, Cancerkin has lots of other plans for October to help promote breast awareness as well as fundraising to continue our services:p>

We will be holding a fundraising stall at the Royal Free Hospital outside the Atrium on Wednesday 12th October 2011 from 10am to 3pm, during which we will hand out information on breast awareness and on Cancerkin’s services.

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.

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.

In the News.....

Breast cancer screening programme under the spotlight...

In recent years, a number of studies have been conducted into the impact breast screening programmes, such at those operating in the UK, have on reducing breast cancer mortality rates. At the beginning of August, On the pulse reported on one such study, conducted by a group of European scientists who compared data from countries that had introduced screening at different times but had experienced simultaneous improvements in survival rates. They concluded that the decrease in breast cancer deaths was due to ever improving treatment options and health care systems, rather than due to breast screening. This week the press has focused once again on this subject following the release of a new report conducted by the Nordic Cochrane Centre, which further criticises breast screening programmes. Lead author of the study, Professor Peter Gotzsche at the University of Copenhagen, has claimed that breast screening actually leads to a 50 percent over diagnosis of breast cancers. This means that as a result of screening, some tumours are treated that would never have progressed or led to illness.

The NHSBSP has been quick to dismiss the claims made by this most recent study, stating that the public health benefits of screening outweigh any risks. Professor Julietta Patnick, director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said: "We know that 97 per cent of women with screen-detected cancers are alive five years later compared to just over 80 per cent of women diagnosed without screening, and screening lowers a woman's risk of having a mastectomy." The NHS breast screening programme (NHSBSP) currently invites all women from the ages of 50 to 70 to have a mammogram every three years. Plans to extend this to women from the age of 47 to the age 73 are currently in the pipeline. The NHS estimates that screening helps to reduce breast cancer deaths by a third and cuts the risk of having to undergo a mastectomy.

To read The Independent’s take on the report, please click here.

Laura Smith
2nd September 2011

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

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. To celebrate and promote the important message of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cancerkin will be hosting a performance of a new play ‘The Last of The Duchess’ at the Hampstead Theatre. The play focuses on the final days of the controversial Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, spent in her household in Versailles and features an all star cast including Sheila Hancock and Anna Chancellor. Written by Nicholas Wright and directed by Richard Eyre, the play is a world premier and we hope you will join us for an unforgettable evening!

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 that can be downloaded from our website. This needs to be completed and returned with your payment to the Cancerkin Centre. Seats are limited so book early to avoid disappointment! All funds raised from the performance will help us support more women affected by breast cancer.

If you are interested in helping out with organising the event, we are currently looking for volunteers to help stuff envelopes in the next few weeks. If you are available, please contact Laura on 0207 830 2323 or l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.. Tea and biscuits will be provided!

Hyde Park Walk announcement!

This week we passed the £30,000 mark in funds raised for the Hyde Park Walk. Thank you so much and well done everybody! 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…

Would you like to work at Cancerkin? We are recruiting an East London Project Intern and an Events, Fundraising and Promotions Intern to join our team for three months in September. To read more detailed descriptions of the roles, please visit our website. To apply, please send a covering letter, clearly stating why you would like the internship and what you think you can bring to the role, plus an up-to-date CV. For the Events, Fundraising and Promotions Internship, please apply to Laura Smith at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk. For the East London Project Internship, please apply to Asini Wijewardane on a.wijewardane@cancerkin.org.uk. The deadline for applications is 15th August 2011.

In the News.....

Potential new treatment for Herceptin resistant tumours

Of the 48,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year, around a quarter will have quick-growing HER2-positive tumours. Such tumours have a large number of receptors to a particular protein which triggers their fast growth. Whilst women with HER2 positive breast cancer previously had limited treatment options, the development of the cancer drug Herceptin (trastuzumab) over the last decade has benefited many patients with this kind of cancer. The drug works to stop cancer cells dividing and growing but over time some women may develop a resistance to the treatment.

Research conducted at the National Cancer Institute in Philadelphia in the US has found that a newly developed protein may help these patients. In lab trials conducted on mice, scientists have found that Affitoxin may be effective in destroying HER2-positive tumours that have stopped responding to Herceptin. Affitoxin kills cancer cells by delivering a bacterial toxin to them. Researchers now hope that the drug will soon be tested on patients in clinical trials and that it will then become available commercially.

Dr Jacek Capala, who worked on the study, said: “Herceptin has revolutionized the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, but a significant number of tumours acquire resistance to the drug. Affitoxin could offer another therapeutic option for those patients whose tumours no longer respond to Herceptin.” Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Campaign, said “If Affitoxin realises its potential as a new treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer, it may overcome this issue of resistance and become an important alternative treatment. These promising results indicate a clinical trial is urgently needed to move this drug closer to patient use.”

To read more, please click here..

New research into benefits of tamoxifen...

In March, On the pulse reported on the first major study into the long-term effects of Tamoxifen, which confirmed that breast cancer is less likely to come back in those that take the drug for five years. The drug is frequently prescribed to women with oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive breast cancer to target any cancer cells missed by surgery and to prevent recurrence. The results of further research into the drug, published online this week in a report by the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group, suggest that women who take the treatment for five years after their surgery can boost the long-term chances of surviving the disease.

Researchers compared information taken from 20 clinical trials involving patients with early breast cancer who took tamoxifen everyday for five years with information about those who did not. They found that those who did take the drug had a lower chance of dying from the disease for at least ten years after treatment began. Over the 15 years after beginning treatment, the risk of dying from breast cancer was reduced by around a third.

Professor Jack Cuzick a Cancer Research UK epidemiologist, said of the study: "This research provides further evidence that taking tamoxifen for five years increases the chance of surviving breast cancer, with the benefits lasting long after women have finished their course of treatment. Although tamoxifen is considered one of the most important drugs in the history of breast cancer treatment, it is now largely being replaced by a new generation of breast cancer drugs called aromatase inhibitors, which have been shown to be even more effective at preventing breast cancer returning with fewer side effects."

To read more about the study, please click here.

Laura Smith
29 July 2011

On the pulse


Cancerkin's News Update.....

Glamgiving and Cancerkin…

Last month, Cancerkin was thrilled to be invited to take part in an exciting new initiative called Glamgiving. About to be launched by Louise Stacey, Glamgiving’s website will sell high end and designer clothes and accessories online that have been donated by retailers and individuals, with a high proportion of the proceeds going to charity. As part of this, Glamgiving plans to hold parties at which guests can donate and buy such luxury fashion wares. Cancerkin was lucky to be selected as one of the charities to benefit from Glamgiving’s first party on 13th June. The party raised an amazing £700 for Cancerkin, which will be put towards the running of our gold standard Lymphoedema clinic. We would like to thank Glamgiving and all those at its first event for their generosity, and we wish Louise all the best for the future!

Hyde Park Walk sponsorship…

Thank you once again to all those who have been busy collecting sponsorship money for the Hyde Park Walk and who have already sent it our way. The current total raised has already surpassed the £25,000 mark so well done to you all! There is still plenty of time to send in your funds – the deadline for monies to be received by the Cancerkin office is Monday 15th August 2011. You’re in with a chance of winning the title of one of our top three fundraisers and to receive a stunning prize donated by Floris. 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…

Would you like to work at Cancerkin? We are recruiting an Events, Fundraising and Promotions Intern and an East London Project Intern to join our team. To read more detailed descriptions of the roles, please visit our website. To apply please send a covering letter clearly stating why you would like the internship and what you think you can bring to the role plus an up-to-date CV to the following people:

For the Events, Fundraising and Promotions Internship, please apply to Laura Smith at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk. The deadline for applications for is 1st August 2011.

For the East London Project Internship, please apply to Asini Wijewardane on a.wijewardane@cancerkin.org.uk.The deadline for applications for is 15th August 2011.

In the News.....

Research suggests new line of attack against cancer…

Scientists at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research (IRC) have this week announced the discovery of a new way in which chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, called necroptosis. It is hoped that the discovery will assist efforts in the fight against cancer, including breast cancer, by providing vital information on why certain patients do not respond to some chemotherapy drugs and showing how resistant tumours can be targeted in a new way.

Until recently, it was thought that cancer cell death as result of treatment happened through a process called apoptosis. This process is often blocked in cancer cells, leading cells to resist treatment and meaning they continue to grow and spread. Whilst examining how a certain group of chemotherapy drugs named topoisomerase inhibitors kill cancer cells, they found that some drugs actually use the process of necroptosis to kill cancer cells that are resistant to apoptosis. During the process of necroptosis, certain proteins within a cell are switched on, leading the cell to lose its membrane integrity and to self-destruct. Lab tests found that it is possible to switch on these proteins and to initiate necroptosis. The process rarely occurs in healthy cells and so these proteins may provide a target for new drugs that encourage cancer cell death but that leave healthy tissue unharmed, meaning fewer side effects for patients. Excitingly, a drug already exists which targets one of the proteins, named SMAC-mimetics, which is showing promise in clinical trials.

Study author Professor Pascal Meier, from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the ICR in London, said of the discovery: "Chemotherapy has been around for decades but we have never understood how it kills cancer cells. This work shows not only that it can happen by two different processes, but how drugs can be developed to activate this newly discovered second cell-killing process in a much smarter, more effective way. We are at an early stage with this work but it could represent a new way of thinking about how we treat cancer patients in the future.”

To read more from Breakthrough Breast Cancer and from Cancer Research UK, please click here. and here.

Blogging to beat Breast Cancer…

The Daily Mail this week featured the inspiring story of one young woman’s efforts to come to terms with a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 29. Following her diagnosis in August 2008, Emily Holt of Cotesbach, Leicestershire decide to start a blog about her experiences, sharing everything about her personal battle against the disease with the online community. Since beginning the blog, she has written about everything from having a mastectomy and the prospect of breast reconstruction to undergoing six months of chemotherapy and the resulting hair loss, and has now gathered a huge online following.

Emily said of her blog: “Writing the blog was both therapeutic and scary. It forced me to evaluate my mortality whilst trying to remain positive for the future. But it was like writing a diary, a diary that could provide hope and information to other young girls battling cancer. I wanted younger people to realise they're not invincible and they have to examine themselves. I've had lots of positive feedback from other suffers who say my blog inspired them to keep fighting, that is the best reward.'

To read more about Emily’s experiences, please click here for the full Daily Mail article.

Laura Smith

15 July 2011

On the pulse


Cancerkin's News Update.....

Our On the pulse scribe, Laura Smith, is on a well earned holiday in the sun so you have me this week. It does give me the opportunity to thank all those who help us make Cancerkin such a success. I am lucky to have the most dedicated staff to support me and all the patients that come through the door. I also want to say a very big thank you to Cancerkin’s Trustees. They are an exceptional group, each bringing a unique skill to the Charity and supporting me in every way. It was very hard to say good bye to Sally Malin who left the Board last week. Fortunately she will be ‘migrating’ to Chiswick so we will soon be neighbours. At the same time another Chiswickian has joined the Board, Jenny Oppenheimer from the Pilgrim Trust. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge about trusts and foundations and an in depth knowledge of the Third Sector. An enormous thank you also to the Lymphoedema volunteers who manage the ever expanding Lymphoedema Clinic. They are an extremely hard working group of women who manage all the patients’ visits, ordering of supplies and general admin for the clinic. And finally, a big thank you to our Experienced Patients who offer a caring hand and listening ear to all our patients living with breast cancer. A truly amazing team and I feel so lucky to be able to work for Cancerkin.

Cancerkin’s East London Project

Project Manager Asini Wijewardane is off working in the Bromley by Bow Health Centre today taking with her a number of our therapists who will offer free massages, reflexology and dance therapy sessions for the day. We now have regular sessions there and at St Joseph’s Hospice so that we can extend to women in East London what has been offered in North London for 24 years.

Hyde Park Walk sponsorship…

Thanks to all those loyal supporters who are forwarding us their sponsorship money for the Hyde Park Walk on 19th June. Whilst we were warned not to raise our hopes this year I have to say that I am overjoyed at the amounts that are coming in. You are all doing so well and we are so touched by all your efforts to support us. There is still time to make the Monday 15th August deadline so don’t despair. You may be one of the top three fundraisers to receive one of the stunning Floris prizes. Please remember to make all cheques payable to Cancerkin and avoid sending cash in the post. Please contact l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk if you have any queries about sponsorship.

Therapies

As most of you know, since I started working here I have enjoyed introducing new therapies thus giving our patients a taste of something different each term. This has meant increasing the number of therapies on offer and ensuring that we are open 9-5.30 five days a week. I am hoping to bring in a drama therapist this autumn and we are also investigating employing a flower essence therapist. These new classes will be piloted in September and introduced in October if there is a demand from our patients.

Please note that Pilates is taking a break over the summer. Classes will recommence on Thursday 8th September 2011 at 1.30pm.

Now over to Una and Asini for our latest snippets from the news desk.

In the News.....

Gene dilemma to prevent next generation cancer

New genetic treatments may be able to help couples ensure their baby will not inherit family diseases. Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) - a technique which screens IVF embryos for genetic disorders and transfers any free of the faulty gene into the mother's womb – has been offered on the NHS for more than a decade for serious diseases that come early in childhood, like cystic fibrosis or Tay Sachs.

However the ethics of extending the use of this technique is debatable, with the first child free of the breast cancer gene by PGD born only in 2009. Professor Michael Baum, a leading researcher in breast cancer, is doubtful whether PGD should be used for inherited breast cancer. He explains a phenomenon in genetics and cellular development called co-expression where two genes could be stuck together – so the mutant gene (i.e. the BRAC1 and BRAC2 mutation) might be co-expressed with favourable components (e.g. complex genes of beauty or intelligence). Therefore he believes by selecting out the embryos of these mutations, there is a risk of selecting out ‘some of the best people in our society’.

To read more, click here.

Fad foods and breast cancer – how to read the headlines

There are many articles out there that focus on the links between food and cancer, with headlines often promoting the cancer-fighting benefits of certain foods. Very often though, it can be difficult to decipher whether the headlines are indeed fact or fiction. A recent article on website ‘Koman for the Cure’ helps to give greater insight into how to ‘read between the lines’ when it comes to articles about foods and breast cancer.

When reading about possible links between diet and cancer, it can be helpful to look at whether the results come from studies of cells, animals or people. Whilst findings from cell studies may be interesting, they indicate a very early step in the research process, and may not necessarily translate to human health. Similarly, whilst animal studies can add to our understanding of how and why some factors may affect breast cancer risk in people, there are many differences between animals and people, and so human studies are needed before deciding whether certain foods are actually linked to the prevention, treatment or risk of breast cancer in people.

Another interesting factor to look out for when reading articles about food and breast cancer is the number of people used in a study. The more people used in a study, the more information or evidence it gives us, as results from a small study can sometimes be due to chance rather than a true effect. Important to also consider is how many other studies have been done on the same topic with similar outcomes as this can help us to have more confidence in the results. In other words, the more human studies is with large numbers and with similar findings there are, the more we can trust whether a food is linked (or not linked) to breast cancer. So next time you read about the link between a certain food and breast cancer, investigate whether the study was done with people, whether it was a large study and supported by other research – armed with this knowledge you will be better able to ‘read between the lines’ and properly interpret the headlines.

To read more, click here.

Victoria Todd

8th July 2011

On the pulse


Cancerkin's News Update.....


Hyde Park Walk sponsorship…

Sponsorship money from those who took part in our Hyde Park Walk on 19th June is now coming in thick and fast – many thanks to those who have sent it in to us so speedily. Please note that the deadline for returning monies is Monday 15th August. On this day we will add up the grand total and announce our top three fundraisers by the end of that week. Each winner will be awarded with luxury products kindly donated by Floris. Please remember to make all cheques payable to Cancerkin and avoid sending cash in the post. Please contact l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk if you have any queries about sponsorship.

If you still have not taken a look at pictures from the walk, please head head to our Flickr or Facebook pages now! Please tag your friends and ‘like’ the photos and the Cancerkin page while you’re there. We’d love you to share your pictures and your experiences of the day with us, so please contact me at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk – the best stories and photos will be posted online!


Bon voyage, Habeeb!

This week we say goodbye to our Office Manager Habeeb Ahmed. Habeeb started as an intern at Cancerkin in 2009 before taking on the role of Office Manager at the beginning of 2010. He is leaving us to go travelling before he pursues a career in aid and development. We are very sad to see him go but wish him the best for his travels and every success and happiness in his future endeavors!


June lectures at Cancerkin

Dr Anmol Malhotra MB BS BSc(Hons) MRCP FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lead at the Royal Free Hospital gave a fascinating and informative lecture on breast imaging in our second June lecture on Tuesday. Dr Malhotra talked about his role in the breast screening process as a Radiologist and explained the signs a Radiologist looks for when assessing a patient. He described the latest developments in breast imaging techniques that aim to speed up the diagnostic process, including discussion of mammograms and their effectiveness. We would like to thank him for sharing his time and expertise with Cancerkin’s patients and supporters in what was a thoroughly enjoyable lecture.


Therapies reminder…

Please note that pilates classes will be taking a break over the summer. The last session before the break will be on Thursday 7th July 2011 at 1.30pm, and classes will recommence on Thursday 8th September 2011 at 1.30pm.


In the News.....


Potential new treatment for oestrogen-negative breast cancers

Of the 48,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year, five percent of these will have a specific type of tumour known as an oestrogen-receptor-negative molecular apocrine tumour. Oestrogen-receptor-negative breast cancers such as these can be difficult to treat as they do not respond to hormone treatments like tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. In more common oestrogen-positive tumours, oestrogen receptors in the cancer cells are switched on by the hormone, fuelling their growth. Oestrogen negative tumours do not have the protein receptors required by hormone to be effective, leaving these women with fewer treatment options.

Scientists at Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute have discovered that patients with this kind of difficult to treat tumour could in fact benefit from prostate cancer treatments which target a different receptor. Androgen receptors, a key trigger of prostate cancer, are fuelled by the androgen hormone, testosterone, in a similar way to which oestrogen receptors are fuelled by oestrogen. Researchers found that in oestrogen-receptor-negative molecular apocrine tumours, androgen receptors can also switch on genes that are usually switched on by the oestrogen receptor, fuelling breast cancer growth. As the research is still in its early stages, it is not yet known what fuels the androgen receptor, whether it is testosterone or testosterone, or if the receptor fuels cancer growth independently without the presence of a hormone.

Lead author, Dr Ian Mills, at Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute, said of the research: “This important discovery suggests that patients with a type of oestrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer may potentially benefit from therapies given to prostate cancer patients, which could transform treatment for this patient group in the future. But at the moment this laboratory research is still at an early stage. We don’t know if oestrogen or hormones from the androgen family such as testosterone also have a role to play in fuelling the disease in this patient group. The challenge is to pin down these answers through further laboratory and clinical research.”

To read more from Cancer Research UK, please click here.



Una Reynolds

1st July 2011