On the pulse....for women affected by breast cancer

On the pulse

Cancerkin's News.....

Cancerkin Portugal Villa up for auction on eBay

A supporter of Cancerkin has very kindly donated her Portugal holiday villa to us, so that we can use it in a new fundraising drive. After much consideration we have decide to auction the stunning villa on eBay. Recently established Mission Fish, helps charities use eBay successfully to raise their profile and funds. With its own swimming pool, and exterior seating and diner area, the villa, which sleeps 10 is a real gem! This is another great way that you can support Cancerkin as well as bagging a treat for you and the family! Please direct everyone you know; family, friends, children’s friends and work colleagues to this site. The money raised really will make a very big difference to the work that Cancerkin do.

To view and start bidding on the villa please click here.

Book Club…

Final reminder that our next book club meeting will be on Tuesday 4th May at 11am. The text is Zoe Wicomb’s ‘Playing in the light’ and centres on South African Apartheid. The book is currently half price on Amazon. Please feel free to come and along for the chat, tea, coffee and cakes.

In the News…

A blood test to detect cancer? Possibly.

A simple blood test which looks for raised chemical ‘markers’ in the blood, has been said to detect the very early signs of breast cancer, potentially saving the lives of hundreds of women in years to come. Already used in the private sphere for around £500, the test could be regularly available on the health service within the next five years.

Developed by Norwegian company Diagenic ASA, the test has been proven to be 75% effective, with its results published in the Breast Cancer Research journal. Detecting a cancer tumour no bigger than a small seed, the blood test has the capacity to spot tumours much earlier than traditional x-ray scanning, which usually require a tumour to be 3-4 times the size. The risk of cancer spreading should thus become much smaller as a result of starting the process of treatment immediately.

Currently the test is being evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, with a trial involving 6,000 women at high risk of developing breast cancer is to due start next year. Dr James Mackay, an oncologist and researcher at University College London, said: ' This test will be particularly useful for younger women who are at risk of developing breast cancer’. Dr Fiona MacNeil, a breast surgeon at London's Marsden Hospital, said: 'The initial research studies show some promise but the usefulness of the test needs to be established by more detailed trials.'

Read the full article, with particular emphasis on the benefits for younger women with breast cancer here.


Weight gain as you age linked to increase risk in breast cancer..

Researchers have found that a woman who is 5'4 tall and who puts on just over two stone between the age of 20 and 50 is almost twice as likely to develop breast cancer after the menopause. This case study supports earlier research which has linked obesity to breast cancer.

The research which was presented to the American Association for Cancer Research found that fat stored in the body produces hormones and chemicals which may fuel the development of abnormal cells and potentially lead to cancer.

In the study which involved 72,000 women more than 3,600 of them developed breast cancer. Indeed, half of the 72,000 had an increase of 5 points in their BMI from age 20. Laura Sue, a cancer research fellow at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) said: "Compared with women who maintained approximately the same BMI, those who had an increase of 5 points or more between age 20 and study entry had a nearly twofold increased risk of breast cancer."

Read the full article here.

_________________________________________
Lauren Newton

l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse....for women affected by breast cancer

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….
Children's Corner opening event
Friday 7th May marks the opening of our brand new Children’s Corner generously funded by the Hampstead Women’s Group. This fabulous group of dynamic women responded to our calls for a safe, fun and stimulating environment for children of our patients to play in whilst their mothers receive treatment. Life President, Santilal Parbhoo will be here to officially open the play area, where a plaque is mounted honouring the generosity and kindness of the Hampstead Women’s Group. The opening will be followed by a coffee and cake morning. Look out for pictures of the event during May on our Facebook and Flicker accounts.


In the News…
Scientist predict the end of breast cancer as we know it in a decades time
In 2005 Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the UK’s only dedicated breast cancer research centre discovered a new class of cancer drugs called PARP inhibitors. 5 years later the resident scientists are now putting together an army of drugs aimed at breast cancer. With the knowledge that breast cancer is not one disease but many, each with its own individualities, the lines of research and attack are extensive, but progress is being made. Professor Clare Isacke, deputy director of the centre looks positive, saying in specific reference to aggressive forms of cancerTop of For’ st arting to be picked off Bottom of Form ‘understanding the tumour biology better you can find new targets.”

Some of the work at Breakthrough includes the following two programmes. Having found that cancer-created blood vessels contain a substance called endosialin, which normal blood vessels do not, and acknowledging why endosialin is vital to the formation of tumour blood vessels, Nicole Simonavicius is on the road to producing ground breaking research due for release next year. Dr Nirupa Murugaesu, a breast oncologist at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, too is making progress trying to find clues about the cellular processes that cause breast cancer to spread to other parts of the body (metastasis).

Indeed secondary cancers are a priority of the centre, with very little still known about these cancers, even though they are the ones that usually kill people. Murugaesu is extremely positive about her research suggesting that it would be reasonable to suggest that through the work of Breakthrough Breast Cancer and others around the globe, breast cancer will cease to be a killer in just over a decade: “There isn’t going to be one wonder drug. But we will be giving women cocktails of drugs to weaken the cancer in multiple ways. In an ideal world, we’d prevent or cure breast cancer, but living with it as a chronic disease is considerably better than dying of it.”
Read the full article here along with the debate as to why breast cancer receives more funding than any other cancer form.

Lauren Newton 14th April 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse...for women affected by breast cancer

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news update….

Hyde Park Walk
The time of year is upon us again where preparation begins for our annual Cancerkin Hyde Park walk. This year the event will be held on Sunday 13th June, and our fingers are crossed for the same glorious weather we had last year! The Cancerkin team have been sending out all your invites, so please keep an eye out for a Cancerkin envelope in your post during this next week. All you need to do is fill in the entry form enclosed and send it back to us ASAP. We require one entry form per person, so if your household needs more than that please visit the events section on our website where you will find a downloadable version or ring the Cancerkin Centre to receive extras by post. Once you have registered, you can begin your sponsorship campaign. We would love to see of many of our Cancerkin supporters there as possible with their friends, families, dogs and grandchildren! If you think your child or grandchild’s class or school might be interested in getting involved please call or email me at l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk and I will send them some information!

If you already know you can not attend but would like to show your support, donations can be sent to the Cancerkin Centre marked for the attention of Lauren Newton. Please clearly state that your generous contribution is for the Hyde Park Walk event.

I look forward to seeing you all in June.

In the news…

Radiotherapy during cancer operations could spare weeks of X-rays
Research recorded by the University College London estimates that a pioneering new cancer treatment could cut waiting lists for radiotherapy and costs for the NHS at a staggering £15million pounds each year. The Intrabeam, a portable X-ray machine, targets radiotherapy at the very site of the tumour, during a breast operation, rather than after.

Of the 45,000 women per year diagnosed with breast cancer, two-thirds require radiotherapy after an operation- to kill any cells that may have been missed. More testing is needed, but Prof Michael Baum, professor emeritus of surgery at UCL, is positive stating: “if it works out, many women will be spared six weeks of treatment going back and forth to the radiotherapy centre.”
Furthermore the mobility that the machine allows means that treatment for very sick patients can be completely revolutionised. The European Breast Cancer Conference, held in Barcelona revealed that so far of the 77 patients who have been treated with the Intrabeam over the past seven years, just two have had their cancer return.

Last year Cancerkin bought and donated an Intrabeam machine for use at the Royal Free Hospital. We are very pleased to be a part of such revolutionary treatment and continue to follow its progress with interest.

To read the whole article please click here

Breast cancer screening IS useful…
The accuracy and efficiency of Breast Cancer screening has come under attack in recent months, with many suggesting it does little in the way of actively saving lives. However, new research reveals that for every case of over diagnosis, two lives are saved as a result.

A research group from Denmark found that among 80,000 women from the age of 50 across Sweden and England, 5.7 deaths from breast cancer were prevented for every 1,000 women screened over 20 years in England. The number of estimated cases of over diagnosis was 2.3 per 1,000 women over the same period. Such over diagnosis is attributed to the difficulty in distinguishing between aggressive and less harmful types of cancer, instead routinely treating all.

The authors, said: "The benefit of mammographic screening in terms of lives saved is greater in absolute terms than the harm in terms of over diagnosis. Between 2 and 2.5 lives are saved for every over diagnosed case."The full article can be found here

Walnuts revealed as superfood for fighting breast cancer
Researches from Marshall University School of Medicine have revealed that a diet rich in walnuts can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer. A study was carried out on mice that were given the cancer virus. Some mice were then fed a walnut rich diet while others were not. The mice that included walnuts in their diet had less breast cancers and indeed in the few that did appear it did not develop until later in life and the tumours were much smaller.

The findings have been attributed to the omega 3 content, phytosterol and mono-unsaturated fats present in walnuts. To read the full article, pick up the new spring issue of Icon magazine when next at the Cancerkin centre. The magazine is full of interesting articles revolving around beating cancer.

LaurenNewton 31st March 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….

Cancerkin’s East London project well under way
On 22 March 2010, Cancerkin held the last of our five pilot outreach events in East London at the Central Stratford Library. Throughout the last month Cancerkin have visited a variety of venues across Limehouse, Canning Town, Plaistow and Stratford, taking with us a selection of complementary therapy sessions, and breast awareness information services. The events were attended by a number of women spanning across a range of ethnicities and age groups. The sessions were extremely successful, particularly tapping in to the lack of breast awareness and support currently on offer in East London. Indeed some women attended more than one session, testament to the benefits our services could provide for these women.

Cancerkin has not worked alone in its East London outreach and would like to thank its partner organisations and all those who have offered their support and encouragement for making this stage of the project such a success. Cancerkin now aims to take the experiences and knowledge from these events forward, to further develop breast awareness, support and collaboration in the East London region.

Book Club: dates for the diary
After a successful first session the book club has now confirmed its next two dates:
• Tuesday 6th April 11-12noon- Half of a yellow Sun (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
• Tuesday 4th May 11-12noon Playing in the light (Zoe Wicomb)
There is now an area on our website where you can post up your responses to the book before the meeting. To do so please go to the News and Media section and follow the book club link. We will use these issues, feelings and questions as directives for the meeting. I have also posted a list of book suggestions to start following our May meeting. I would really like all who attend to post up there own suggestions with a short synopsis of the book. These suggestions will then be put to vote, with the most popular 3 becoming our reading list from May-July. To add your suggestions just click on the ‘comment here’ link.

If you would like to come to any of the book club sessions listed above please read as much of the chosen book as you can and email me the Monday of week’s session confirming your attendance at l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk


In the News….

From two operations, to one
Like the thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer every year, Barbara Hobson faced major surgery. First there was the removal of the tumour itself and then a potential second operation if the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. The lymph nodes help to drain fluid from tissues all over the body and if they are affected by cancerous cells the risk of the disease spreading is much greater.

Previously it has been normal practice to remove the primary lymph node and then send it for testing in the laboratory- if the result proves to be cancerous a second operation will then be needed. With around 20 lymph nodes in each armpit this is an extensive and serious operation. Barbara became the first woman in the UK to undergo a new test which reveals prior to any surgery whether the lymph nodes have been exposed to cancerous cells, negating the need for a second surgical operation. The new technique injects microscopic bubbles of gas into the breast which are then tracked by ultrasound. A biopsy sample is then taken of the lymph node and tested for cancer. If tests reveal that cancer has spread to this first lymph node, then all the lymph nodes would be removed. The technique is not completely new and has been used since the 1990s to identify heart abnormalities or live tumours. It is hoped that by using it to track changes in the lymphatic system waiting times of up to 2 weeks for results will be a thing of the past.

Sue Jones, a breast surgeon working at Maidstone Hospital, explains: 'This is incredibly exciting, because we don't have to break the bad news of a further operation, and we're not clearing the nodes unnecessarily either. Often saying that the cancer had spread and they needed more surgery hit women harder than the cancer diagnosis itself.'

If you would like to find out more please read the whole article here

New research into the relation between aspirin and breast cancer
After investigating 740 postmenopausal women, a team of Harvard researchers have found that those who took painkillers for 15 days per month, had a 10% lower oestrogen level (on average), than those who did not take the drugs. This survey’s results suggest that the use of painkillers can reduce the levels of oestrogen in the body. The female hormone oestrogen has previously been associated with the development of breast and other forms of cancer.
The study's leader, Margaret Gates, a research fellow at Harvard Medical School, said that: "Although the overall risks and benefits would need to be weighed, analgesics could be implemented as a chemo preventive and may decrease the risk of several cancers."

Find the whole article here

CRT announces partnership with Cephalon to co-develop a new class of anti-cancer drugs
Cancer Research Technology (CRT) and Cephalon Inc., an international biotechnology company, have announced their collaboration in the development of small molecule inhibitors, which have been shown to be associated with the development of cancer. It is hoped that the pairing of these two biochemical giants will help the development of innovative cancer drugs and treatments. Dr John Mallamo, Vice President of Worldwide Chemical R&D at Cephalon saying: “This collaboration creates a critical mass of biology and chemistry expertise, capable of quickly advancing the high quality lead series CRT has identified’. Watch this space!

The whole article can be found here

Lauren Newton 24th March 2010 l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse.....for women affected by breast cancer

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News Update…

Cancerkin goes digital
Cancerkin can now be found on popular networking site Facebook. If you have a Facebook account PLEASE become a fan of the Cancerkin page and invite all your friends and family to spread the word. Cancerkin will be using Facebook to organise fundraising and support events whilst providing a conversational space for people to share their experiences with cancer and the help they have received from Cancerkin.

Photos of previous events, the Cancerkin Centre and our Look Good, Feel Better workshops are also available on image sharer Flicker. If you want to find out more about Cancerkin or are suggesting Cancerkin to others you know who many benefit from our services, please refer them to our Flicker page so they can see Cancerkin at work!

If you, your children, your work colleagues or friends are looking to organise a charity fundraising event for Cancerkin and want help to get it started take a look at charity event organisers Choose a Challenge’s website (where Cancerkin can be found as a registered charity). Choose a Challenge offer charity drives such as skydiving, sponsored hitchhiking and many more. All proceeds raised will go directly to Cancerkin to support and facilitate our growth. Check out our page here.

In the News…..

Mum of three defies terminal breast cancer odds
The Telegraph published the heart warming and hopeful story of Claire Blair this week, a 36 year old mum of three. At the time she was diagnosed, Mrs Blair thought her extreme tiredness was down to having given birth to her youngest daughter three months earlier. However a trip to the hospital, resulting in an overnight stay suggested something was seriously wrong. Indeed the next day the doctors delivered the news that Claire had terminal breast cancer and just two weeks to live; despite being only 32.

Four years later, Claire is still here and will be taking part in Cancer Research’s Race For Life with her three girls. Claire attributes her survival to the drug Herceptin, stating "I wouldn't be here without it. I still take it’. Herceptin is designed to stop breast cancer cells dividing and growing. However Claire also recognises the power of dogged determination: "Surviving cancer isn't just about treatment. It is not just about your personality. It's not just about love and support. It is about all of those things pulled together. You have to make a happy balance of them all."

If you feel Claire’s story (available to read in full here) is similar to your own and you would like to celebrate it, please join our Hyde Park Walk, in support of Cancerkin’s work. The Walk takes place on Sunday 13th June and all registration details can be found on the fundraising section of our website.

Important cancer drugs denied to thousands of patients
The NHS medicines watchdog has found that a year after government ordered the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) to relax its spending criteria for patients close to the end of their lives, thousands of cancer patients are still being denied access to drugs. The recent Rarer Cancers Forum (FCF) report shows 16,000 cancer patients are still being denied the drugs they need.

Around half of the 16,000 denied have been judged not eligible for consideration under the new end-of-life criteria. The remaining 8,000 patients however have lost out as the drugs have been considered too expensive for the benefits they bring. The RCF says Nice should make greater efforts to agree "patient access" schemes with pharmaceutical companies.

Andrew Wilson, chief executive of the Rarer Cancers Forum, said: "Many thousands of patients are still missing out on the treatment they need. The changes introduced by Nice should be benefiting more patients." Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of Nice, said: "Our end of life treatments protocol, introduced at the beginning of 2009, has already made it possible for very expensive cancer treatments, which extend life for short periods, to be recommended". Read the document in full here

From prostate to breast cancer
A technique used to treat prostate cancer has successfully been adapted to the treatment of breast cancer, destroying tumors in 13 patients so far. The process, known as cryotherapy, involves inserting a number of small needles into the tumour, delivering temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius. This effectively freezes and then kills the tumour, negating the need for surgeons to have to cut it out.

These results mark a breakthrough for Barbara Ann Karmanos of the Cancer Institute in Detroit and her team. Previous attempts had not achieved sufficiently low temperatures in a wide enough area to make it work. The Society of Interventional Radiology conference, where the results were delivered were told that the procedure was not too intrusive or painful and offered excellent healing results, with biopsies taken immediately after treatment revealing no remaining cancer and no sign of it returning after five years.

Dr Peter Littrup, an interventional radiologist and director of imaging research and image-guided therapy recognised the value of this experimental technique stating, "Minimally invasive cryotherapy opens the door for a potential new treatment for breast cancer and needs to be further tested.” Doctors said surgery to cut out breast cancer is still the most effective chance of a cure but minimally invasive techniques such as cryotherapy could be used for women who cannot or do not want surgery. Dr Kat Arney, science communications manager for Cancer Research UK, agrees stating “This new technique has only been tested in a very small number of women. Larger trials will be needed before we know whether it is a safe and effective alternative to surgery for the disease.”

Please find the full article here
Lauren Newton 17th March 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

In the News…..

Women who took the chemo drug Taxotere say they were not warned of potential permanent hair loss.
Commonly used breast cancer drug, Taxotere, has helped reduce breast cancer mortality rates in recent years. However, as breast cancer sufferers live longer, it has become apparent that one of the drug’s side effects is permanent hair loss.

According to the manufacturer’s own studies, the side effect of persistent alopecia is suffered by about 3 per cent of patients who take Taxotere with other chemotherapy drugs. However it has left those who have been affected feeling that despite having physically recovered from cancer, visually they still look very ill. Dr. Bourgeois, of Le Mans, France recognises the detrimental affect this has on a survivor’s confidence, outlook and “quality of life”.

Women across the globe who have suffered such side effects have now formed a support and lobbying group called the Taxotears. They include one Taxoterrorist who posted pictures of her balding head on the Facebook page of the pharmaceutical company. For those who have been affected it is paramount that other women are not only made aware of the dangers of Taxotere but are also encouraged to understand that they have a choice about whether to take such a risk or not.

Indeed Dr. Bourgeois echoes such a sentiment, giving his patients a choice of 12 cycles of Taxol, with a very tiny risk of permanent hair loss, or four cycles of Taxotere, where the risk of hair loss is higher. Most choose Taxol, which he says works just as well on breast cancer. As a generic drug, it also happens to cost less. Later this year, a Dr. Lemieux is planning to conduct a study to determine whether cooling the scalp while receiving chemotherapy – so that less of the drug reaches hair follicles – can help prevent baldness without compromising outcome. Read the full article (including patients’ personal experiences) at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/women-who-took-chemo-drug-say-they-werent-warned-of-permanent-hair-loss/article1490406/


NHS launches £8m campaign to increase early cancer diagnosis
Each year 10,000 deaths are caused by late diagnosis. Following last week’s report on the UK's low survival rates in comparison to its European counterparts, The Department of Health is providing £8million for primary care trusts (PCTs) across England to fund profile raising campaigns about the UK's three biggest cancer killers: breast, bowel and lung cancer.

PCTs will be able to bid for up to £100,000 to spend on advertising campaigns and outreach work, raising awareness of the main symptoms associated with the big three. It is hoped that such work will reduce the 63,400 people who die from breast, bowel and lung cancer each year, whilst also encouraging GPs to commit to earlier referrals. For example, 90% of bowel cancers can be cured if treated early but only 13% are detected at the earliest stage.

PCTs in Doncaster and Derby have already seen results from previous advertising campaigns. Derby is using posters of Bobby Moore, England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain, who died of bowel cancer at the age of 51, at bus stops, sports clubs and working men's clubs, as well as on leaflets and postcards to encourage older men to get checked . Read the full article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/08/nhs-early-cancer-diagnosis


Osteoporosis drug may cut breast cancer risk
A study conducted by Dr Polly Newcomb and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin USA and supported by the National Cancer Institute of the USA has suggested that women who take bisphosphonates, an osteoporosis drug, designed to treat brittle bones may reduce their risk of breast cancer.

The research compared almost 3,000 women, between 20 and 69 years old, who were diagnosed with breast cancer to a similar number of women who did not have a history of breast cancer. The researchers looked for characteristics in the two groups that might explain an increased cancer risk, including whether they had taken bisphosphonates. The women who had used the drugs for the longest time (two years) were found to be 40% less likely to develop breast cancer than women who had never used the pills.

These results will need to be confirmed with randomised trials that assess whether the drug really can prevent breast cancer. Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK. welcomed the results, but said: "Before a drug can be recommended, thorough testing needs to be completed." This study has several strengths and weaknesses which the article discusses in greater depth. See http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/03March/Pages/brittle-bone-drug-breast-cancer-test.aspx

Radiotherapy delays linked to small increased risk of breast cancer recurrence
An international team of scientist have suggested that the longer older women wait for radiation treatment after undergoing surgery for breast cancer, the greater the chances of the disease coming back. Records for 18,050 US women, aged 65 or over and diagnosed between 1991 and 2002, were analysed looking at the correlation between the interval from breast cancer surgery to radiotherapy and the rate of disease recurrence. The results found that women who started radiotherapy more than 6 weeks after surgery were found to face a small but significant increase in risk of local recurrence of breast cancer.

The British Medical Journal said: "There is a continuous relationship between the interval from breast-conserving surgery to radiotherapy and local recurrence in older women with breast cancer, suggesting that starting radiotherapy as soon as possible could minimise the risk of local recurrence."

Dr Jodie Moffat, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "Radiotherapy plays a hugely significant role in the treatment of cancer. Although we have seen improvements in the amount of time people across the UK are waiting for their radiotherapy in recent years, we know that there are still some people who are waiting too long. Cancer Research UK is calling on the governments across the UK to improve access to radiotherapy services…we want to see strategies and resources in place to ensure that people receive radiotherapy when they need it and to reduce the unacceptable variations in radiotherapy provision across the country."
Read the full article at: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/cancernews/2010-03-03-Radiotherapy-delays-linked-to-small-increased-risk-of-breast-cancer-recurrence


Lauren Newton
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk 5th March 2010

On The Pulse.....for women affected by breast cancer

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news update….

East London outreach project

As some of you may or may not be aware Cancerkin have begun a breast cancer awareness outreach project amongst the communities of East London. The project aims to increase awareness of breast cancer among communities that up to now have had low take up of screening, poor engagement with GPs and thus low survival rates for breast cancer; and to provide Cancerkin’s complementary therapies either in those communities or at Cancerkin’s premises at the RFH (with transport paid for). The project is focused on the London boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest, as they have some of the highest mortality rates for breast cancer in London. To date we have successfully completed two collaborative outreach events at the John Scurr Community Centre in Limehouse and The Hub in Canning Town. Next week we will continue our work at the Newnham African Caribbean Resource Centre in Plaistow. The outcomes of the project will initially be focused on levels of engagement with local communities and take up of Cancerkin’s services.

Virgin Money launches charity credit card

Virgin Money has launched a new credit card that will give 1 per cent, with Gift Aid, of the money that customers spend to charity. Each time the Virgin charity credit card is used, Virgin Money will make a ‘cash back' payment of 0.8 per cent of the value of the transaction and this will be given to a charity chosen by the customer.

A Virgin Money spokesman said: "This is an easy and convenient way to support good causes. Cardholders will be able to nominate their chosen charities, which they can change quickly and easily."

If you have a Virgin Money card please think of Cancerkin when spending on your card! This really would make a valuable difference to the work we do!

In the news…

The UK’s cancer survival deficit

Policy Exchange, the centre-right think tank, revealed this week that although the UK spends more than any other European country on cancer research our cancer survival rates fall significantly below the European average. So why is this and what can the UK do to change it? Well, Policy Exchange has attributed such a contradiction to the lack of money the UK invests in treatment services compared to its European counterparts. The government seems to agree. Among other things, their recent Cancer Reform Strategy seeks to increase access to screening, radiotherapy and chemotherapy so that by 2012 the UK matches the standard set by other European countries. Although these targets are indeed improvements to the current system are they enough? Nick James, Professor of clinical oncology at the University of Birmingham and Professor Gordon Rustin, director of medical oncology at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre don’t seem to think so. For them there remains a catalogue of issues still to be addressed. GPs are not as up to speed on detecting symptoms in their earliest stages as they should be and once detected they have little access to diagnostic tests, often resulting in late diagnosis. Increased but still patchy access to drugs and reduced waiting times, does not sing of a wholly functional system for all and then finally there is the traditionally British attitude of not wanting to ‘bother’ the doctor. Read More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/feb/23/improve-uk-cancer-survival

Gene testing to aid breast cancer

Gene-screening has been used to identify women most likely to benefit from one type of breast cancer chemotherapy. Scientists scanned 829 genes in breast cancer tumour cells and selected six, which if missing or faulty would prevent the chemotherapy agent paclitaxel working properly. Researches believe that by addressing individual’s needs, and recognising that not all sufferers will need one type of drug, the prescription of drugs could potentially become more cost effective and thus available on the NHS. Of the 45,500 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year approximately 15% are on paclitaxel; a percentage of which may not need to be.

Dr Charles Swanton, from the Cancer Research UK charity's London Research Institute, said: ''A great challenge in cancer medicine is determining which patients will benefit from particular cancer drugs and it is hoped that this research is a step towards more rapid developments in this type of personalised medicine.
To read the article in more depth please follow the link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7337670/Gene-test-aids-breast-cancer-treatment.html

The revival of the Ward Sister

The Primer Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery is calling for the revival of the role of the ward sister as the heart of hospital care. The commission is also looking to place more comprehensible procedures and protections around the term ‘nurse’, with only those registered by the Nursing and Midwifery council allowed to use them.
The role of the Ward Sister had previously been a pillar of support to both patients and staff, administering both medical and emotional care. Do you feel that this would have made a difference to your experience in the wards: would you have felt more secure/less isolated etc? If you have any responses you would like to share please email me at l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

Lauren Newton 5th March 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer

Cancerkin’s news update….

Cancerkin shortlisted in NCVO photography competition

In a competition attracting hundreds of entrants, Cancerkin were one of only 10 to be shortlisted in the first ever NCVO national photographic competition on 23rd February 2010. Member organisations were invited to submit a photograph and caption that reflects the work that they are doing and the positive difference that it makes. Our entry, along with the other ten finalists was exhibited and can be seen on the Guardian and NCVO’s websites. Click here to see them: NCVO and Guardian

Book Club

Would you like to broaden your intellectual and creative horizons? Are you looking for a hobby that will be both stimulating and relaxing? We are looking to start a book club at Cancerkin. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Lauren Newton at Cancerkin (l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk) or on the usual telephone number 020 7830 2323.

In the news…

Why Tamoxifen sometimes fails

Scientists have discovered why some breast cancers are resistant to tamoxifen (a drug therapy that blocks the growth of oestrogen which can fuel some breast cancer tumours). They found that when a gene called FGFR1 is turned on too much is can become resistant to the drug and other hormone treatments. In lab studies, they were able to switch off the gene in cancer cells which had too much of the gene. Following on from that, tamoxifen (and other treatments) were able to work again and destroy the cancer cells. About 10% of breast cancers have too much of the FGFR1 gene and this discovery could ultimately help thousands of women. Dr Nick Turner, lead author of the report, said: “We have known for some time that breast cancer patients with too much of the FGFR1 gene in their cancer are more likely to have a poor prognosis…The next step is to set up a clinical trial to see whether a drug that blocks the action of this gene can counteract hormone therapy resistance in breast cancer patients. If these trials confirm our lab work we could be on the verge of a potentially exciting new treatment for breast cancer.” Dr Lesley Walker (director of information at Cancer Research UK) said: “Cracking the problem of resistance to treatments such as tamoxifen would be a major advance in treating breast cancer.” Read more at: Cancer Research UK; BBC News

Aspirin and breast cancer

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reported that women suffering from breast cancer who took aspirin on a regular basis were less likely to have a recurrence and less likely to die from the disease. They reported that the risks could be halved by taking aspirin 2-5 times per week. However, a report by the NHS says that this is only a preliminary study and cannot determine whether aspirin directly caused the difference in cancer recurrence and survival. Clearly, further research is needed. They go on to point out that aspirin is not without risks, particularly for those undergoing chemotherapy, who may be more susceptible to bleeding and so may be advised not to use aspirin. As ever, Individuals should always speak to their GP before taking or changing their medication. Read more here: Times Online; The Independent; nhs

New Blood Tests

A personalised blood test has been developed that can detect whether a tumour has returned or is responding to treatment; it is thought that it could be widely available within 5 years. The test will enable doctors to monitor the progress of patients with any type of tumour. The benefits would include avoiding aggressive treatment that is not needed and/or is not working and ensuring others get the treatment that they need. It is being hailed as another step towards personalised cancer care. In trials on 6 patients (including two with breast cancer), scientists detected minute traces of tumour DNA in a few mililitres of blood. Victor Velculescu of John Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Centre in Baltimore, who led the research said: “There is currently no test for cancer that provides personalised biomarkers for clinical management of disease.” Professor Peter Johnson, the chief clinician of Cancer Research UK, said: “This is another exciting step down the road towards personalised cancer medicine. If this can be done for other types of cancer like bowel, breast and prostate, it will help us to bring new treatments to patients better and faster than ever.” Read more: Times and Guardian

Ageism in breast cancer treatment

Research funded by Breakthrough Breast Cancer showed that some older people are not benefitting from advances in the treatment for breast cancer that have been developed over the last 10 years, that have improved overall survival rates. This is despite the fact that the risk of getting the disease increases with age. The charity is calling for treatment to be offered on the basis of clinical need rather than age. The story was reported in the Mail Online and on the charity’s own website: Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Authorities prevent treatment of pregnant cancer patient

Finally, a distressing story from Nicaragua, reported in the Guardian about a pregnant woman, with cancer, who is having cancer treatment witheld, because it could harm the foetus and violate the ban on abortion. A law enacted in 2007 made the country one of the few in the world, which has a total ban on abortion under any circumstances.

Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 24th February 2010

On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer

In the news…

Link between poverty and breast cancer gene damage

The British Journal of Cancer reports that women from poorer backgrounds may have a worse prognosis when it comes to surviving breast cancer. This is because their lifestyle, affected by factors such as a less healthy diet can cause the p53 gene to mutate. In healthier people, this gene, which suppresses cancer, is continually produced and degraded in cells, but researchers at the University of Dundee have discovered that if this gene becomes damaged or mutates, people are less able to suppress the growth of tumours. The research was based on a survey of 246 women treated for breast cancer and tested for the p53 mutation.

Dr Lee Baker, who led the study, said: "This research makes a strong link between p53 and deprivation, and then between p53 mutation and recurrence and death. As a social issue, it shows that if we lift people up the deprivation scale they will be less likely to have problems with their p53 gene, and go on to develop breast cancer. Deprivation alone doesn't cause breast cancer, but can affect prognosis when p53 is damaged as a result of lifestyle choices commonly associated with deprivation."
Read more about this story: BBC News, Guardian and British Journal of Cancer

Rhubarb

Reports that rhubarb crumble could be the new “cancer-busting superfood” are wide of the mark, according to Cancer Research UK.

A study by Sheffield Hallam University showed that British garden rhubarb, like many red vegetables, contains a chemical called polyphenol, which can kill or prevent the growth of cancer cells and so can be used to develop new treatments for the disease. Baking rhubarb for 20 minutes, as one might do in a crumble, increases the chemicals concentration. Dr Nikki Jordan-Mahy, one of the researchers on the study, said:“Our research has shown that British rhubarb is a potential source of chemicals that may be used to develop new anti-cancerous drugs….Current treatments are not effective in all cancers and resistance is a common problem as is toxicity.” Read more here: Telegraph and Food Chemistry

However, Ed Yong, head of health information at Cancer Research UK said: “Certain methods of cooking rhubarb may increase levels of polyphenols in lab tests, but it’s a big leap to say that this will have a noticeable impact on the risk of cancer in real people. We'll need more studies to see if the chemicals in rhubarb have anti-cancer properties that could ultimately be harnessed to develop drugs. Several successful cancer treatments have been derived from plants, but a great deal of work is needed to turn a naturally occurring chemical into an effective and potent drug." Read more here: Cancer Research UK

For those of you who like rhubarb, which is in season right now, here are a few recipes: Freeform rhubarb tart and Perfect poached rhubarb

Menopause

An article in The Guardian this week looks at one woman’s guide to coping with the menopause. For many women who have had breast cancer, HRT is not an option, but the writer of the article looks at a variety of remedies. It is important that you consult your doctor before taking any new drugs or treatments.

Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 17th February 2010

On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer

In the news…

Use of antidepressant interferes with cancer drug

Researchers in Canada have suggested that a popular antidepressant may be interfering with the effects of a cancer drug with potentially fatal consequences for some women. Paroxetine, (brand name Seroxat) (commonly prescribed for depression and also to help with the hot flushes that many women suffer as a side effect of tamoxifen) may be cancelling out the effects of tamoxifen (a drug for patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer). This is not to say that paroxetine itself causes or influences breast cancer, rather that it can neutralise the effects of tamoxifen. The report was published in the British Medical Journal and the editorial warned that these two drugs should not be prescribed together. One of the authors, Dr David Juurlink said: “These results highlight a drug interaction that is extremely common, widely under-appreciated and potentially life-threatening, yet uniformly avoidable. He added: "When co-prescription of tamoxifen with an antidepressant is necessary, preference should be given to antidepressants that exhibit little or no impact on tamoxifen's metabolism." The researchers did say that women should not stop taking tamoxifen and cautioned against stopping paroxetine; rather women should talk to their doctors about the best course of action. Read more in: Daily Telegraph and the Mail Online

Gordon Brown pledges one to one care for cancer patients

In an interview with the Observer, the Prime Minister pledged that if Labour wins the next general election, cancer patients will be offered free one to one home care by specialist nurses. This was reiterated on Monday in a speech to the King’s Fund think tank. In the speech, he also highlighted the need to focus “far more on prevention and early intervention” and restated that Labour would extend the Cancer Guarantee - which gives everyone with suspected cancer the right to see a specialist within 2 weeks of diagnosis - to ensure that all cancer tests are completed and results given within just 1 week. This was much reported in the media and the story can be read in the following places, among others: BBC News, Cancer Research UK and The Observer

Shortage of Medicines

Serious shortages are being reported around the country of about 40 well known drugs used to treat a range of conditions including cancer. The health minister, Mike O’Brien, said that speculators were putting patients’ lives at risk by selling drugs abroad that were intended for the UK market. He said: "I have made it very clear that it is a very few unscrupulous people that are putting profits before patients. Rather than selling drugs to NHS patients as they should, they are selling them abroad for greater profit."He added: "There are people who are sending out shopping lists of medicines to pharmacists, with the difference in price between us and Europe," said a spokesman for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. "They are skimming off medicines meant for UK patients." Two breast cancer patients reported difficulties accessing supplies of Arimidex and Femara in a story in the Mail Online. Read more about this story generally in The Guardian

Fewer larger doses of radiotherapy may be better

A study published in the Lancet Oncology surveyed over 4000 women and concluded that fewer, larger doses of radiotherapy, with a lower overall dose, may be preferable to the international standard treatment. This is on the basis that the former is just as effective but produces fewer side effects. Radiotherapy is often used after a tumour has been removed by surgery, to kill off any remaining cancerous cells. Women on the new regime reported fewer skin changes and of course, there were fewer treatment visits required. The standard treatment is given daily and is usually over a 4-6 week period. A spokeswoman for Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: "Radiotherapy is important in reducing the chance of cancer coming back but women have told Breakthrough that attending many sessions can be both physically and emotionally draining. Anything that has the potential to deliver radiotherapy treatment in a way that could benefit a patient’s quality of life is to be welcomed.” Read more here: Cancer Research UK and Telegraph

World Cancer Day…

…on 4th February, focussed on prevention this year, citing a few simple changes to our lifestyles as helping to reduce the risk of getting cancer. All the usual culprits were noted – smoking, alcohol, weight, inactivity and diet. It was stressed that these factors alone will not determine whether a person gets cancer, but can help to reduce the risk. Worldwide cancers account for 1/8th of all deaths, which is more than malaria, AIDS and TB combined.
“Fighting” Cancer
I reported last week on various articles in the press focussing on what was referred to as the ‘tyranny of positive thinking’ when it comes to dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Looking at this issue in a slightly different way – do people with cancer have to ‘fight it’; does mental attitude make a difference to recovery?
What is your experience of this? Does this sort of language help you or does it annoy you? Did you endure your cancer or did you fight it? If the latter, what did you do? Did you tire of people telling you to have a fighting spirit or did it help?
I would be most interested to hear your views on this topic. You can either email me or reply direct on the website, where this news digest can also be found.

Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 10th February 2010

On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer

Cancerkin’s news update….

New Staff

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Asini Wijewardane as Project Manager on our East London project and Habeeb Ahmed as Office Manager and Researcher. Asini joined us as an intern in September 2009 and she was offered (and accepted) this permanent role at the start of January. Habeeb also joined as an intern and subsequently applied for the above advertised position. He was successful in the interview process and was offered the post, which he accepted and started this week. Congratulations and welcome to both!

New Intern

We are also delighted to welcome Laura Newton who joined us this week, initially on a three month programme, to work on Events Planning. She will be concentrating initially on the Hyde Park Walk, taking place this year on Sunday 13th June.

In the news…

Unseen damage of alcohol abuse

Research published to coincide with a new TV campaign on the unseen dangers of alcohol abuse reveal that many people do not fully understand the long term damage they may be doing to their bodies by drinking more than the recommended amount. 86% of people surveyed were aware of the link with liver disease, but only 7% were aware of the strong links with breast cancer. Alcohol is converted into a toxic chemical in the body which damages DNA and stops cells repairing the damage, which can cause cancer. Sara Hiom of Cancer Research UK said: “Alcohol can …increase levels of oestrogen and unusually high levels of oestrogen can increase the risk of breast cancer”. Read more here: Cancer Research UK

Herceptin

A study reported in The Lancet (Feb 2010) by Dr Luca Gianni and others of the National Cancer Institute in Milan confirmed previous findings that the use of Herceptin alongside chemotherapy for patients with HER2 positive locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancer improves long term survival. In the study, her team compared one year’s treatment with Herceptin in 117 women, compared with one year’s treatment without the drug in 118 women. After 3 years, there was no recurrence of breast cancer in 71% of the women treated with Herceptin as against 56% of the women who did not receive it. Herceptin has been available on the NHS since 2006, following a high profile campaign.

Tamoxifen

The Daily Mail reported that scientists at Queens University, Belfast have identified a gene which predicts how women will respond to tamoxifen, a drug regularly used to treat women with hormone sensitive breast cancer. However, it is estimated that only around two-thirds of women put on the drug will benefit from it, so with further research, these scientists have said that this “…should allow us to identify which patients are unlikely to respond to or eventually relapse on tamoxifen therapy, which means they could be treated more aggressively with chemotherapy. In the next three years we should have a clearer indication of whether our research can benefit the patient.” Read more there: Breast cancer gene

The Tyranny of Positive Thinking

The Mail reports that when a (now ex) friend of Jenni Murray, journalist and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, told her that pessimistic thinking had probably caused her breast cancer and that she must be positive and heal herself, she was absolutely furious. She said: “To be told that feeling miserable about a health problem…will make the condition worse seems nothing short of cruel”
There have been other reports in the press recently on a similar theme:
Two US university psychology professors argued that while a positive patient is more likely to attend appointments and look after themselves physically, it is very stressful to have to pretend to be upbeat all the time.
An American cancer nurse, Cynthia Ruttenberg referred to an “additional burden to an already devastated patient” when they have to live up to what has been called “the tyranny of positive thinking”.
Barbara Ehrenriech’s book “Smile or Die – How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World”, talks more broadly about this issue and how it can negatively impact on not only our health, but also the workplace and the economy. When the author, who only started looking at this whole issue after a diagnosis of breast cancer herself, started investigating the experience of other sufferers, she discovered that the principal view was that only with a positive attitude will your immune system be able to beat the cancer. As she points out, that is just not true.
Jenni Murray concludes her own article by saying that while she has “no qualms about thinking positively…[but] to follow a philosophy that tries to persuade you that the way you think is what can make you better is a cheat and a lie.”
Read more on these stories here: Jenni Murray and Barbara Ehrenreich

Dogs and the power of smell

Dogs have been trained to sniff out people trapped in avalanches, illegal drugs and counterfeit or stolen money, so why not cancer? Dogs have an incredibly powerful sense of smell, many million times more sensitive than us. They can not only recognise a smell, but also its change over a period of time. An article in the Times reports that researchers have started training dogs to recognise the chemical smells produced by cancer tissues. In their first trial, dogs could detect which patients had cancer using breath and urine samples. Dog owners have reported anecdotally for many years now of their pet dogs detecting unknown cancers.
Read more here: The humble dog: man's best-equipped friend - Times Online



Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 3rd February 2010

On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer

In the news…

Breastlight

The Daily Telegraph reported on this hand held ‘torch’ (on sale at Boots) which shines a light through breast tissue and can light up tumours as small as 7mm, which would not be detected by a physical examination. Trials of the Breastlight in Ghana reported a very high success rate of 96%. There, the Breastlight was used as part of their screening process of women in rural areas. In this country, it is unlikely to be used in hospitals in place of mammograms, but rather by women at home, who find it difficult to do checks on themselves and perhaps more particularly by women under 50, who do not qualify for the national screening programme. Trials of the Breastlight at Sunderland City Hospital picked up 67% of a malignant tumours (mammography typically picks up 60 – 85%) and reported high satisfaction among women using the Breastlight. However critics are concerned that use of this ‘torch’ may result in needless anxiety. Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK said: "There is no clear evidence to show this sort of home-testing kit could reliably detect breast cancer. There's a danger that use of the device could leave some women with increased levels of anxiety and others with false reassurance." Read more: Daily Telegraph

Personalised breast cancer care

While many patients respond well to adjuvant chemotherapy, up to 20% do not. Scientists based at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute identified two genes that, when abnormally active, enabled cancer cells to resist anthracyclines.[1] It is hoped that this may be a step towards developing a genetic test of breast cancers to help doctors choose the best chemotherapy treatment for each patient. In so doing, they would be able to avoid using more or less the same treatments for all, and a patient suffering the side effects of a drug that was most unlikely to be effective anyway. Meg McArthur, from Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “This research is a step towards discovering why some patients benefit more than others from a common form of chemotherapy. Research like this is important for identifying the appropriate treatment for individual patients.” Oliver Childs, from Cancer Research UK, said: "It is too early to say whether this research will lead to a predictive test, but work like this inches us a little closer towards an age of personalised cancer treatment."
Read more here: Daily Telegraph Mail Online and for any medics among you at Nature Journal

Breast Screening – pros and cons

The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine published an opinion piece this month levelling various criticisms at the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Review 2008. One of the main issues in a screening programme is balancing the benefits and harms of the procedure. The benefits include identifying and treating cancers at the earliest possible stage, thereby giving patients the best possible chance of long term survival. The harms include over-diagnosis, over-treatment and false positives[2]. The opinion piece says that undue emphasis has been placed on the benefits, but many believe that the complexity of the evidence makes this issue difficult to judge.
Read more about this at NHS Choices and also a comment piece in The Guardian: click here Guardian comment

Red lentil Soup

You may be wondering what this has to do with breast cancer, but as I like to introduce a lighter hearted note where I can, this is a recipe from the Daily Mail for the cooks among you, using lentils and celery – both of which are claimed to contain compounds that can fight cancer. Click, cook and enjoy…Soup

Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 27th January 2010


[1] Class of drugs commonly used in chemotherapy for breast cancer.
[2] A result that is wrongly positive when a situation is normal.