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