ON THE PULSE… for people affected by breast cancer

Cancerkin’s news Update….
EXERCISE CLASSES
Please remember that we run the following weekly exercise classes:
Alexander Technique; Pilates (twice a week); Tai Chi (twice a week); Yoga

The classes are a good opportunity for a gentle work out and to meet old and new friends in a welcoming environment.
All are welcome at these classes, but it is helpful if you can let us know in advance if you plan to be there.
Remember that all classes are free of charge.
We look forward to seeing you soon.

In the news…
NEW DRUG TO TREAT UP TO A THIRD OF CANCERS
PARP inhibitors have already shown promise in dealing with some breast and ovarian cancers, which are strongly linked to BRCA gene mutations; but according to a recent study[1], there is a possibility that they could be used to treat several other cancers too.
Cells with faulty PTEN genes have been found to be 25 times more sensitive to the inhibitors than cells with normal PTEN. Faults in the PTEN gene account for 30-80% of breast, prostate, melanoma, womb and colon cancers.
Dr Chris Lord, lead researcher at Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: ‘This new class of drugs could potentially make a big difference for many thousands of cancer patients, including some with very limited treatment options’.
Professor Alan Ashworth, director of Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research said:‘These results are exciting because they show that PARP inhibitors are potentially a powerful targeted treatment with few side effects which may help a broad range of cancer patients.’
See the following for further information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8256494.stm
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2639319/Wonder-drug-is-hailed-as-a-cancer-buster.html
16th September 2009
[1] The study appears in the EMBO Molecular Medicine journal.

MANY THOUSANDS A YEAR COULD BE SAVED BY EXERCISE AND DIET…

…so says the latest study by the World Cancer Relief Fund (WCRF) in an update of their cancer prevention report in 2007, which looked at many different types of the disease.
The study says that up to 4 in 10 cases could be avoided (up to 18,000 per annum) if women in this country were more active, drank less and kept a healthy weight.
This report was picked up by a number of newspapers including the Daily Mail[1] and the Guardian[2].
Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser for the WCRF said the report:
“represents the clearest picture we have ever had” on how lifestyle affects the risk of breast cancer.

7th September 2009

[1] www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210331

[2] www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/01/breast-cancer-report-diet-health

LOW TAKE UP RATE FOR FREE PRESCRIPTIONS

Since 1st April 2009, cancer patients in England have been entitled to free prescriptions, but it seems that only a minority are taking advantage of this, with approximately 90,000 of an estimated 150,000 people with cancer in England still paying for their prescriptions (£7.20 each).
To get the exemption from charges, patients must complete a form which they can get from their GP or cancer specialist and which needs to be signed by the GP or specialist. The form is then sent to the NHS Business Services Authority and the patient is given a five year exemption certificate, in the form of a credit card sized document, which you can carry in your wallet.
The scheme is available to people undergoing treatment for cancer or for the effects of cancer treatment.
Martin Ledwick, head of Cancer Research UK's information nurses, said:
“It's disappointing if cancer patients are missing out on the free prescriptions they're now entitled to have. These prescriptions will help tens of thousands of people struggling with the heavy cost of having cancer.”
For more information see: www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8227371.stm

7th September 2009

A STORY OF TWO MOTHERS

Here are links to two stories in the news this week concerning mothers and breast cancer.

The first was reported in The Daily Telegraph and is an extract from Sarah Gabriel’s book Eating Pomegranates: A Memoir of Mothers, Daughters and Genes. The author lost her own mother to breast cancer and the book deals with how she tries to tell her own young daughters about her diagnosis.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/6016056/How-do-I-tell-my-children-Ive-got-cancer.html

The second story was reported in the Daily Mail and concerns Rebekah Gibbs, actress, who stars in BBC1’s Casualty. She was diagnosed with HER2 breast cancer at 36, just 9 weeks after giving birth to her first child, although she had found a lump part way through the pregnancy. She is taking part in a trial of the drug Lapatinib[1] (which can be taken in pill form), to see if it can be used as an alternative to Herceptin[2] (which is taken intravenously) in reducing the recurrence of cancer. At the moment, Lapatinib is used to treat secondary breast cancers that are not responding to other treatment.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1207194/Why-Casualty-star-Rebekah-Gibbs-trying-new-potentially-dangerous-breast-cancer-drug.html


19th August 2009


[1] http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.800


[2] http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.397

DEADLY STING OF NANOBEES

There has been much reporting in the press this week of new trials using ‘nanobees’ that effectively sting cancerous tumours to death. The poisonous chemical in a bee sting, melittin, is attached to ‘nanoparticles’ (tiny molecules) which are in turn injected into the patient. The melittin attacks cancerous cells, but leaves healthy cells alone. So, one of the potential advantages of this form of treatment over chemotherapy is that it is more targeted, meaning doses could be lower with far fewer side effects. Tests on groups of mice with cancerous breast tumours showed that after 4-5 injections of melittin-carrying nanobees over several days, the growth of these tumours was slowed by nearly 25%. The team working on these studies plan to start human trials next year.
The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on 10th August 2009.
Read more about these trials at:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6790927.ece
and
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810174226.htm

12th July 2009

Only 3% aware of link between weight and cancer…

This is according to a survey by Cancer Research UK, the results of which were released on 4th August 2009. Each year, they survey a sample of the population to find out what they know about cancer risk factors and symptoms.
This year, 3,947 people were asked ‘What are the main changes people can make to their lifestyles to reduce the risk of cancer? ’Participants were not given any hints as to what these might be, but named the following:
Smoking – 66%
Food and diet – 59%
Exercise – 29%
Alcohol – 22%
Sun and skincare – 11%
Bodyweight – 3%
Don’t know/nothing – 7%

Sara Hiom, director of health information at Cancer Research UK said:

“We have estimated that more than 13,000 cases of cancer could be prevented each year if everyone maintained a healthy weight.”
“While many people associate weight with being healthy in general, this survey shows that most people don’t link it directly with their risk of cancer, or don’t know how much it can reduce their risk.”
“Leading a healthy life with a balanced diet and plenty of exercise does not guarantee that a person won’t get cancer but these healthy habits can help to cut the odds."

Being overweight is seen to be a risk factor as the fat tissues in overweight people produce more hormones and other growth factors than those in people of a healthy weight. High levels of some of these hormones can increase the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer in women after the menopause.[1]



5th August 2009



[1] Source: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/obesityandweight/

Spotlight on Cancer

In August, the Community Channel [1] is running The C Word, a month long season of programmes highlighting the need to spot cancer early to get the best chance of successful treatment and also the work of the organisations in this field.
A new series of films called Spotting Cancer Early are being premiered on the Channel during this season. They are covering lung, bowel, mouth and breast cancer.
There are two other programmes specifically relating to breast cancer - one on how to spot the symptoms of breast cancer in a new film called Being Breast Aware and another on how to get back to health after breast cancer, where women share experiences of how diet and exercise have improved their wellbeing called Eating Well, Being Active. There are a number of other films and programmes relating to other cancers.
On their website, they are featuring personal stories of those affected by cancer.
For more information see their website at www.communitychannel.org/cword
Cancer Research UK are also campaigning for the early detection of cancer and have information on their website at www.spotcancerearly.com

5th August 2009
[1] Sky 539: Virgin TV 233: Freeview 87 (6-9am)

Report reveals that Britain is spending less on latest generation of cancer drugs

On 26th July, the Daily Express (www.express.co.uk/posts/views/116468) referred to a new report showing that Britain is spending less than other major European countries on the latest generation of cancer drugs. Dr Graeme Poston, director of surgery at University Hospital in Aintree and leading cancer specialist has collated the figures which show that the NHS bill for cancer treatments works out at 60p per head of population. This compares to Italy who spend £2.94, Germany - £3.63, Spain - £4.58 and France £7.35.
Dr Poston said: “There’s a limit to what surgery can do. We need modern drugs to help survival rates and in many cases, people are unable to get them.”

Swine Flu

There has been an enormous amount of news coverage given to this issue in recent weeks and you will no doubt be aware that this virus is being managed at primary care level for patients considered to be at risk or with health conditions (such as those with weakened immune systems). The National Flu Service (going live on Thursday 23rd July) is intended to relieve the pressure on the NHS and GP surgeries by taking calls and emails from all other sufferers, going through a checklist to diagnose cases and giving access to anti-flu drugs where appropriate. They will refer high risk patients to their GPs.
However, for patients receiving care and treatment for breast cancer, a Consultant at the Royal Free Hospital and member of Cancerkin’s Medical Advisory Panel gives the following additional advice:
1. If you have swine flu, you should cancel your clinic appointment and rebook and let the breast care nurse and relevant secretary know. You should get tamiflu through your GP (not your hospital) and the same applies to the vaccine (when it becomes available).
2. All patients on chemotherapy or within 12 months of chemotherapy should get priority for the vaccine when it is out.
3. Patients don’t need to interrupt hormone treatment but would have to interrupt chemotherapy or radiotherapy if they have swine flu.

23 July 2009

Nearly two-thirds of UK adults risk their health through lack of exercise

This is according to a new survey published by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) to launch their new UK wide ‘Move for Health’ campaign on 1st July 2009, highlighting the importance of exercise in maintaining good health and preventing illness.
The findings of the survey are that the majority of adults (63%) are not physically active enough, which can have serious medical consequences including a higher risk of cancer, obesity, heart disease, type-2 diabetes and stroke.
Dr Laura Bell, Cancer Research UK science information officer said:
“We know that being physically active reduces the risk of breast and bowel cancer and that the more active you are, the more you can reduce your cancer risk. Aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day, 5 days a week.”
“This means something that makes you warm and slightly out of breath like brisk walking, gardening or housework. Research tells us that around half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle.”
Bridget Hurley, chartered physiotherapist and CSP spokesperson said:
“Regular physical activity is as important as eating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day… Without sufficient physical activity you are increasing your risk of life-threatening illnesses”
Exercise doesn’t need to be expensive, boring or time consuming. Just going outside at lunchtime for a half an hour walk every day will greatly increase your fitness levels.”

1 in 3 women may be receiving treatment for breast cancer 'needlessly'

This is according to the results of a survey reported in the British Medical Journal on 10th July 2009, by a team from the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Denmark. The story was reported widely, including in a number of newspapers and in the BBC online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8143564.stm
The results of the survey suggested that up to one in three breast cancers detected by screening may be harmless and that while screening[1] may lead to earlier detection of lethal cancers, it is also detecting harmless ones for which women are receiving needless and (in some cases) gruelling treatment.
However, as can be seen from the report, a number of health professionals are concerned that the study has not only been “…selective in the statistics that it used…”, but also that it may deter women from attending screening which is estimated to save up to 1400 lives a year.
Dr Sarah Cant from Breast Cancer Care said:
“Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to predict which cancers found through screening will develop aggressively and which will grow very slowly” She added: “Based on all the current evidence, we believe the benefits of detecting breast cancer still outweigh the risks.”

[1] The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every three years for all women in the UK aged 50 and over. Around one-and-a-half million women are screened in the UK each year. Women aged between 50 and 70 are now routinely invited.

June 2009

AVAILABILITY OF PROMISING NEW DRUGS AND TECHNIQUES TO CANCER SUFFERERS
A story in the Daily Mail on 25th June 2009 (www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1194817) reported on the existence of promising new drugs or surgical techniques that are currently available for cancer patients, often on the NHS, although many patients are unaware of them. They say that this may be due to a postcode lottery, a lack of expertise in how to go about getting them or a lack of the right equipment at a local hospital. So the question is how to go about getting these ‘cutting edge treatments’?
They refer to the new government guidelines, whereby each patient has a right to choose the hospital where they have their treatment. They suggest ways of getting hold of a drug or treatment you think might be of benefit, but is not being offered to you for a variety of reasons. Examples are referral for a second opinion, an appeal to an independent panel of a local primary care trust (PCT), use of the top up scheme and getting help and advice from a relevant charity.
The article then goes on to discuss the latest drugs and treatments that are available either on the NHS or privately for various cancers. In respect of breast cancer, they refer to instances where some NHS doctors are prescribing chemotherapy before surgery in an attempt to shrink the tumour. There has already been success with this approach, particularly with larger tumours, where the results in some cases have reduced the need for radical surgery and allowing for a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy. They also talk about the use of the sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is available in some NHS hospitals, to determine if the breast cancer has spread through the lymphatic system. By using this technique, surgeons can avoid removing all the lymph nodes, possibly unnecessarily, to determine if the cancer has spread in this way.

PROMISING NEW DRUG IN TREATMENT OF CANCERS CAUSED BY FAULTY BRCA1 OR BRCA2 GENES
June 2009 - Cancer Research UK report on a promising new drug called Olaparib which has successfully completed a Phase 1 clinical trial at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Early results indicate that the drug appears to be particularly effective in people whose cancers carry mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 cancer predisposition genes which are linked to breast, ovarian and prostate cancers.
The drug was given to 60 patients who had an inherited form of breast, ovarian or prostate cancer, caused by faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. These genes are thought to be responsible for about 5% of breast and ovarian cancers and about 1-2% of early onset prostate cancers.
Early results of the trial (sponsored by AstraZeneca), published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that more than half of the patients saw their tumours shrink or stabilise, despite the failure of previous treatments. The drug is now being tested in larger trials.
Dr Peter Sneddon, an executive director of clinical and translational research funding at Cancer Research UK, which part funded the trial said:
“Although development of this drug is in its early stages, it is very exciting to see that it has the potential to work when other treatment options have failed.”

CANCER INCIDENCE & SURVIVAL BY MAJOR ETHNIC GROUP, ENGLAND 2002-2006
This is the name of a first report on ethnicity and cancer incidence, published on 25th June 2009 and produced by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) and Cancer Research UK. It is the first national analysis of cancer incidence in ethnic groups and looks at all cases of cancer diagnosed in England between 2002 and 2006.
It is said that the report will help shape policy on targeting relevant public health messages to the ethnic communities around the signs and symptoms of cancer.
Dr Lesley Walker, a director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK said:
“This report is a hugely important step forward in understanding how such a complex disease affects people from different ethnic groups.
The next step is to think about how we can target health messages appropriately, making sure different communities are aware of the signs and symptoms of the cancers that are most likely to affect them.”
It seems that while the white population is at a higher risk overall from cancer (including breast cancer), the report highlights the increased risk of certain cancers, like stomach, prostate and myeloma, in the black population, based on the data collected.

NON INVASIVE TREATMENT FOR BREAST CANCER
30th June - The Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph reported on a ground breaking treatment for breast cancer, which uses light to target and kill tumours without the need for surgery. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has already being used to treat some other cancers, but a medical team at the Royal Free Hospital are trialling it for the first time on primary breast cancer. This pioneering work is being led by Mr Mo Keshtgar, leading breast cancer surgeon and member of Cancerkin’s Medical Advisory Panel. The treatment works by injecting the patient with drugs which make the target area sensitive to light. The drug is activated when a low power red laser is beamed at the area. The process starves the cells of oxygen, causing them to die. The potential advantages are that this treatment only attacks the cancer cells, rather than affecting surrounding healthy cells and could (in some cases)avoid the need for surgery. It could become an alternative to radiotherapy in the future.
Clinical trials are due to start on 20 patients this year at the Royal Free Hospital and it is hoped that if these and future trials are promising, with patients being monitored for 5 years after treatment, that this technique might be available within 6 years.