On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….
Christmas is coming…
Preparations for the annual Christmas Tombola on 10th December are well underway and we have already received some generous prize donations, ranging from scented candles and book tokens to a family meal and haircuts. If you have any items that might make a suitable prize, such as a box of chocolates, toiletries or books, or if you work in a restaurant, café, shop or hairdressers and would be willing to donate your wares or services, we would love to hear from you. We are also looking for willing volunteers to shake some collection tins for us around the hospital on the day, so if you have a few hours to spare on 10th December, do get in touch. Please email Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 020 7830 2323.

Yoga Classes Cancelled…
Unfortunately, our weekly yoga class will be cancelled this Friday, 19th November, and next Friday, 26th November, as our yoga instructor Martin will be away on holiday. Classes will resume on 3rd December 2010 when he returns.


In the news…
Annual breast screening for younger women?
As reported in The Telegraph, a leading cancer specialist has this week asserted that women under the age of 50 with a family history of breast cancer should be offered annual mammograms. Professor Stephen Duffy, a cancer screening expert at the Wolfson Institute for Preventative Medicine argued that those with a moderate to strong family history of the disease should be given annual screening from the age of 40. He estimates such a move could save up to 50 lives a year and could put the minds of many women in this category at rest.

Currently the NHS’s Breast Screening Programme offers a mammogram every three years to women aged between 50 and 70, helping to save between 1,000 and 1,500 lives a year. Prof Duffy points out that only a small number of women under 50 would require the annual checks he proposes – around 300,000 thousand women aged 40-49 fall into the high risk group. He states: "It's worth doing because nowadays people are more and more aware of relatives with cancer and it causes a lot of worry."

Prof Duffy’s comments follow the publishing of his study into breast cancer in women in their 40s. The study compared death rates of women in this age bracket with a family history of breast cancer who were given annual mammograms and those of two similar groups who were not given screening. He found that, in those who had had annual screening, cancers were smaller and less likely to spread and those with cancers that had spread were more likely to be alive 10 years after diagnosis.

To read The Telegraph’s article, please click here.

A quarter of all cancers discovered late…
Research conducted by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) has revealed that 1 in 4 of all cancers in patients in England is found at a late stage following emergency admittance to hospital. Researchers at the NCIN examined the records of all English patients diagnosed with malignant cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer and multiple tumours) in 2007, to find that 23 percent of patients presented as emergencies , that is via A&E, emergency GP referral, emergency consultant outpatient referral, emergency transfer, or emergency admission or attendance. An additional 25 percent were diagnosed through the ‘Two Week Wait’ urgent GP referral.

Results suggest that the route to diagnosis varied widely between types of cancer. In breast cancer patients, only 4 percent were diagnosed following an emergency admittance with 42 per cent diagnosed after urgent GP referral and 21 per cent following routine screening. In contrast, 57 percent of patients with acute leukaemia and 58 percent of those with brain tumours were diagnosed through emergency presentation. In terms of age and socioeconomic background, the under 25s, over 75s and those from poor backgrounds were most likely to be diagnosed in this way.

What the study most importantly revealed was that survival rates were much lower in patients diagnosed at this late stage in their disease. In patients presenting as an emergency with all cancers (except acute leukaemia), the likelihood of reaching a year after diagnosis was lower than with earlier diagnosis. Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's director of health information, said of the results: "Spotting cancer early can make all the difference to the outcome. And we're working hard to raise public awareness of the early signs and symptoms of cancer and to ensure that GPs have clear guidance on who and when to refer. It's also important that people take up their screening invitations. These new data show us there's a real opportunity to reduce the numbers of cancers diagnosed this way."

To read Cancer Research UK’s report in full, please click here.

New treatment for late-stage breast cancer…
A new chemotherapy drug called Halaven, used to treat patients with metastatic breast cancer, has this week been approved for use in the U.S. This approval follows a recent study into the drug which revealed its potential to significantly increase survival times for those in the late stages of the disease.

The study examined 762 women with metastatic breast cancer who had already had two other courses of chemotherapy. They were assigned treatment with either Havalen or another single agent therapy chosen by their oncologist. For those who received Havalen, the average survival time was 13.1 months, in comparison with 10.6 months for those receiving other treatments.

Havalen belongs to a group of drugs called microtubule inhibitors, which work by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. It is a synthetic form of a chemotherapeutic agent found in the sea sponge Halichondria okadai and is received by injection. Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products at the U.S.’s Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said: "There are limited treatment options for women with aggressive forms of late-stage breast cancer who have already received other therapies. Halaven shows a clear survival benefit and is an important new option for women."

To read the full article released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, please click here.

Laura Smith 18th November 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….
Creative writing in December…
Lily Seibold will be holding her next creative writing session on Monday 6th December 2010 at 10am until 3pm. With the festive season imminent, the group will explore and write about what different seasons mean to them. Each season tells a different story and you can tell yours as well as listen to those of famous writers.

Tea and coffee will be available but lunch will not be provided. There are plenty of places around the hospital to eat, alternatively you can bring your own food and use our patient waiting room. If you would like to attend, please email Laura on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.

In the news…
Introducing the ‘Cyberknife’…
Announced in the news this week was the arrival of the first NHS ‘Cyberknife’ machine at the Mount Vernon Hospital in North London. Providing treatment that targets difficult to treat tumours, the Cyberknife was previously only available in the UK through private health care. The machine was purchased with an anonymous donation of £2 million and its services will be made available to cancer patients all over the country, bringing hope to many who had been told that their tumours were inoperable.

The non-invasive treatment uses a robotic arm to deliver multiple beams of high dose radiation from different angles, meaning it is able to reach tumours in difficult or dangerous areas such as the brain or the spinal cord. The machine is extremely precise – its beam is accurate to within a millimetre - and so, when it is targeted at a tumour, minimal damage is made to the surrounding healthy tissue. As a result, high dose Cyberknife treatment can be delivered in just a few sessions whilst conventional radiotherapy involves twenty or more short sessions with low-dose radiation.

A BBC report about the Cyberknife interviewed Daphne Duggan, a breast cancer patient with secondary brain tumours who has benefited from the treatment. She said: ‘it’s just so easy. Everybody who is offered the opportunity to have treatment with the Cyberknife should grab it with both hands.’ It has now been announced that a further machine will be installed at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London next spring. To watch the BBC news report, please click here.

New developments in breast cancer prevention for postmenopausal women…
A new study has revealed the impact Lasofoxifene can have on reducing the risk of breast cancer and other health problems in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. A study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the US and published in the online Journal of the National Cancer Institute randomly assigned 8556 such women different doses of the drug or a placebo. Researchers found that, in comparison with those who took the placebo, the overall risk of breast cancer development in women who took 0.5 milligrams of the drug was dramatically reduced by 79%. Furthermore, the risk of estrogen receptor positive invasive cancer was reduced by 83%, and cases of coronary events, strokes, vertebral and non-vertebral fractures were all significantly lower.

Lasofoxifene belongs to the same group of drugs as Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, known as SERMs – or selective estrogen receptor modulators – which are sometimes used in breast cancer chemoprevention. The drugs work by blocking the effects of estrogen on breast tissue and all have similar effects on reducing breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis as well as offering certain health benefits. However Tamoxifen can cause further complications and has been linked with endometrial cancer and other gynaecological problems, whereas Raloxifene is less widely used as it does not offer a wide enough range of health benefits. What this study reveals is that Lasofoxifene potentially offers a wider variety of health benefits but does not pose further risks to patients’ health.

Victor G. Vogel, MD, of the Geisinger Medical Center, said of the study: "We need more complete information about the long-term effects of Lasofoxifene on both beneficial and unfavourable outcomes, but the early data regarding its risks and benefits are encouraging." To read more about the study, click here.

Exercise can aid recovery…
At Cancerkin, we see first hand the positive impact undertaking exercise and staying active can have for our patients. In the news this week, preliminary results from a study into exercise for recovering breast cancer patients suggest that a structured programme of physical activity can help reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and improve quality of life. The pilot study, lead by researchers at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, indicates that increasing physical activity improves general health and is therefore an important part of the rehabilitation process.

Researchers found that on the whole, breast cancer patients tended to do less exercise during treatment than they had beforehand. Many were motivated by their diagnosis to undertake a new healthier lifestyle but often failed to put such plans into action due to lack of support and structure. Annabel Pollard who led the study said: "Enabling cancer survivors to recover or improve their health after cancer treatment is perhaps as important as treating the disease […] The research indicates that simply providing information alone does not change behaviour; a structured approach is more conducive to change". Clinical Oncological Society of Australia President, Professor Bruce Mann, added: "Physical activity is not usually high on the list of priorities for patients, but we should be encouraging and supporting them to undertake structured programs." If you would like to read the article in full, please click here.

Laura Smith 11th November 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News…
Christmas Tombola coming soon…
Christmas is fast approaching and to celebrate the festive season Cancerkin will be holding a fundraising tombola at the Royal Free Hospital on 10th December. Last year a vast array of fabulous prizes were generously donated to us, ranging from books and toiletries to bottles of champagne and meals for two. If you, your business or your place of work are interested in donating a prize to help make the event a success, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.

In the news…
New technique shows if treatment is working…
Cancer Research UK has reported on the development of a new method that quickly shows if breast cancer treatment is working. Current methods using CT scanning and MRI can only detect the impact of treatment when a tumour begins to shrink, a sign that can take a number of weeks to become visible. The new imaging technique, developed by scientists at Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute, is able to recognise very early changes in cancer cells, allowing doctors to evaluate the effect of treatment at a much earlier stage.

Researchers used two specially labelled chemical markers on breast cancer cells treated with the chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin to highlight early signs of response to the treatment. The first marker, [1-13]pyruvate, shows if the drug is damaging the DNA of cancer cells and the second, [1,4-13C2]fumarate, shows if it is killing such cells, both positive signs that treatment is working.

Lead researcher, Professor Kevin Brindle, said of the impact the technique could have: “Our new imaging method not only shows early evidence that treatment is working but could also help predict the long term outcome.” Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, added: “We need fast and accurate ways of knowing that the treatment is working. This research could help us tailor treatment to each patient by giving doctors a useful tool to check treatments are working after a short time, rather than waiting several weeks to see if the tumour is shrinking, reducing unnecessary treatment for women.” To read more about the technique, click here.

Can green tea help fight breast cancer…?
Each week, the press pitches us new theories surrounding supposed breast cancer-fighting super foods. Writing off one such popular theory, a Japanese study published recently in the journal Breast Cancer Research has found that green tea, a drink previously thought to have breast cancer-fighting properties, in reality does nothing to reduce the risk of developing the disease.

Lead by Motoki Iwasaki at the National Cancer Centre in Tokyo, the study monitored 54,000 Japanese women who drank green tea over a period of five years. Researchers found that, regardless of how much the women drank, the tea had no effect on their breast cancer risk. The study contradicts earlier research into the drink during in-vitro and animal-based studies that suggested green tea could help prevent the disease.

Despite the study’s findings, it is not to say that green tea is without health benefits. As listed in The Independent this week following the study’s revelation, some of its healthful properties include: aiding weight loss, preventing tooth decay, regulating digestive functions and improving mental processes. More significantly, separate research into the drink has recently revealed that drinking five cups a day can reduce the risk of stomach cancer in women by up to 20%. To read more about the relative health benefits of green tea, please click here.

A phone ‘app’ for every occasion…

A new iPhone ‘app’ newly launched by Breakthrough Breast Cancer is aiming to help make more women breast aware. A thoroughly innovative approach to breast cancer awareness, the application, which can be downloaded free from the internet to your iPhone, follows three simple steps: images and a video demonstrate how you should check your breasts, using the TLC (Touch, Look, Check) routine; an alert reminds you to carry out regular checks; and a quiz-style “Risk-Report” examines your lifestyle, environment and family history to assess your risk of developing cancer.

In line with recent internet-based “Everyone is Art” and Facebook campaigns for breast cancer awareness month, as reported in On the pulse last month, this interactive ‘app’ is clearly targeted at a younger audience. Young women are increasingly at risk of developing breast cancer and so it is encouraging to see new approaches to breast awareness that are able to engage with younger women and teenage girls and to encourage them to check their breasts regularly.

Judith Potts, a former actress who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, has shared her thoughts on the ‘app’ in her blog in The Telegraph this week – to read it, click here. If you would like to download the application yourself, please click here.

Laura Smith 4th November 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….

A big Thank You from Cancerkin!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Cancerkin is now drawing to a close and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been busy raising money for Cancerkin this October. We would like to give a special mention to….

· Philippa Drew, who has raised £3000 from some talks she has been giving.

· Gina Atherton, who raised an amazing £800 for Cancerkin when she swam a mile earlier this month. Well done Gina.

· Alison Swan, who organised a charity Pilates day, raising £460 for Cancerkin. It was an impromptu decision on Alison’s part to stage this year’s event, but next year she is planning bigger and better things – watch out here for more information nearer the time.

· Linda Newton (Lauren Newton’s mum), who held a cake sale in aid of Cancerkin and was able to raise an impressive £450.

· Priya Mehta, a former intern at the Cancerkin office, who is donating the proceeds of a fundraising breakfast at Shaftesbury High School to mark breast cancer awareness month.

· Rada Ristic, who we would like to thank again for generously leaving her book collection to Cancerkin. Her donation helped to make our annual October stall a huge success, raising over £800.

Drama therapy starting next week…

Do you want to work creatively? Have fun? Explore ideas through music, drama games and improvisation? Maybe hone the acting skills last exercised at school? Well now’s your chance! This November we are holding weekly drama workshops, beginning Thursday 4^th November at 12 - 1.30pm and continuing on the 11^th, 18^th and 25^th. To reserve a place, please call 0207 830 2323 or email Laura, at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.

Cancerkin’s East London Programme…

Since June 2010 Cancerkin has been running free monthly information and complementary therapy sessions in East London at St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney. Nearly 40 women from all over East London have participated in these sessions benefiting from a range of Cancerkin’s complementary therapies. The days have consisted of one-to-one sessions of massage, reflexology, reiki and soul therapy plus group sessions of art therapy, dance therapy and/or tai chi. Cancerkin has received extremely positive feedback from all the participants, many of whom have never experienced any of these therapies before. We scored top marks from the responses to our questionnaire (ranking the day on a scale of 1 (not helpful) to 10 (brilliant) - most gave us 10! Click here to see pictures of the sessions, taken by Chloé Meunier ©.

Cancerkin has not worked alone in this East London outreach programme. We would like to thank St Joseph’s Hospice for providing the most stunning venue plus a team of helpful and obliging staff members who supported us throughout the programme. In addition, we also wish to thank Newham, Homerton, St Bartholomew’s and Whipps Cross hospitals along with our local partner organisations for all their support in making these sessions such a success.

In the news…

MRI scans counter-productive for early stage breast cancer patients?

Much has been written in the press this week about the use of MRI scans on early stage breast cancer patients, following criticism of the screening technique by Malcolm Kell, a consultant surgeon and senior lecturer at the Eccles Breast Screening Unit, University College Dublin. Writing in the British Medical Journal, he questioned the increasingly routine use of the Magnetic Resonance Mammography (MRM) in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, arguing that it could do more harm than good and may lead to unnecessary surgery.

Using strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the breast, the MRM is a highly sensitive technique, capable of picking up difficult to spot tumours that may be missed by the traditional X-Ray Mammography. Used in conjunction with ultrasound and X-ray, the screening technique is most frequently used for monitoring patients with advanced breast cancer and for assessing a patient’s response to chemotherapy. MRM may be also be offered to young women with a genetically high risk of developing breast cancer, as breast tissue in women of a younger age is firmer and consequently harder to screen using other methods.

Mr Kell’s criticisms, however, lie in the technique’s implications for patients in the early stages of breast cancer. Research suggests that, due to its sensitivity, the MRM picks up harmless growths in such patients at an early stage of the disease that will have no effect on the patient’s prognosis. As a result, he warns that patients may be opting for surgery and mastectomy too quickly. A trial of its use in early breast cancer patients found that the technique did not reduce the number of women returning for further surgery after initial surgery failed to remove all potentially cancerous tissue. The number who consequently had a mastectomy was seven times higher (seven per cent compared to one per cent) in those who had an MRM, while there was no evidence that the increased rate of more aggressive surgery had saved lives. Mr Kell stated that MRM’s ‘routine use in the management of patients with early stage breast cancer may be unwarranted. We have no evidence to support a clear benefit in this setting.’ In response, however, a spokesperson from Breast Cancer Care highlighted that MRI scans are not routinely used on these patients and that few women are likely to be affected by the issues raised by Mr Kell. To read The Telegraph and The Daily Mail’s reports on Mr Kell’s comments, please click here or here.

Breast Cancer Genes are passed on by fathers too…

As we know, a family history of cancer can play an important role in determining the risk of cancer development. In women diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer, as many as 30% will have a family history of the disease and 5 to 10% will carry the BRAC1 or BRAC2 genes. While emphasis is often put on the mother’s family tree, a study published this week in the online edition of The Lancet Oncology is encouraging us to think more about our father’s family history of breast and ovarian cancer. The study suggests that overlooking paternal family history can lead to some women’s risk of cancer development being underestimated.

Using patient records to compare referrals of patients with maternal and paternal family histories of breast and ovarian cancer, researchers at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada, found that women with a familial predisposition on the mother’s side were five times more likely to be referred to a specialist. The breast cancer genes BRAC1 and BRAC2 however are carried by both men and women and have the same 50% chance of being passed on by each sex, a fact of which many are unaware. Researchers wrote: “deficits in knowledge among healthcare providers and the general population about the inheritance patterns of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations could result in missed opportunities for genetic testing and cancer prevention in individuals with a paternal family history.” Commenting on the study’s findings, Elizabeth A. Poynor ,MD, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said: “the study reinforces the importance of obtaining the appropriate three generation family history of cancer and other illnesses as well as the importance of educating primary care providers and women about cancer risk identification.” To read the article in full, click here.

Laura Smith 28^th October 2010

l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….
Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Cancerkin…
On Friday, we rounded off a highly successful week of events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a talk by Mr Tim Davidson ChM, MRCP, FRCS on ‘the current state of breast cancer treatment’. Mr Davidson discussed the treatments available for breast cancer patients, focusing in particular on the development of surgical treatment options, and explained the process by which the appropriate treatment is chosen. His very informative talk was followed by questions from the audience, giving many of our patients the opportunity to find out more about treatment. We would like to thank Mr Davidson for lending his time and expertise to Cancerkin.

Next session in East London...
As part of our ongoing East London Programme, we are holding our fourth complementary therapy session at St. Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney on Monday 25th October, offering over 30 women from all over East London an opportunity to try out a range of therapies. This session will include Art Therapy, Massage, Soul Therapy, Reflexology, Reiki and Tai Chi, and our President, Mr Santilal Parbhoo, will give a Breast Cancer Information talk to the group.

In the News…
Rebirth of Venus...
In September, we reported on a new project designed to raise breast cancer awareness - the innovative “Everyone is Art” campaign. As part of the Samsung More Than Talk Breast Health Awareness campaign, people affected by breast cancer were invited to upload photos, from which 1,096 were selected by British artist Samira Harris and used in her giant recreation of Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’. A particularly poignant number, 1096 represents the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Europe each day.












Through using an interactive internet campaign, the project has been able to involve a wide cross-section of people and the finished piece features the faces of men and women, young and old, highlighting the fact that breast cancer affects people of all ages and genders. On the Pulse has previously reported that an increasing number of young women are being diagnosed with the breast cancer and, as reported in The Telegraph this week, around 300 men are diagnosed with the disease in the UK every year. Speaking in the newspaper, Henry Conway, a socialite whose photo appears in the work, said that he decided to contribute his image as he wanted to help raise awareness by changing the perception of breast cancer as a disease only affecting middle-aged women.

Measuring 6ft by 5ft, the artwork will now be auctioned to raise money for breast cancer awareness and 20 of the chosen images will be displayed on the big screen at Piccadilly Circus this month. Look out for them there! To read more about the campaign, click here or visit http://www.morethantalk.eu/.

Early onset of puberty has implications for breast cancer risk…
An article published this week in The Guardian has thrown light on an increasing trend of early puberty in children of primary school age. Peter Hindmarsh, professor of paediatric endocrinology at Great Ormond St Hospital in London, stated that conclusive evidence shows puberty is arriving earlier and earlier in girls, with those as young as eight or nine starting to develop breasts and have periods. “Between 1958 and 2005 breast development – the sign that puberty is starting in girls – moved about nine months ahead of where it used to be” he explained. The average age for the onset of puberty in girls is now 10.75 years. In light of this trend, an increasing amount of research demonstrates that girls who reach puberty at a young age are more likely to develop breast cancer in adulthood, meaning more and more young girls are potentially at a higher risk of developing the disease.

The early arrival of puberty is predominantly linked to increased body weight, a pertinent issue in a society struggling with childhood obesity. When a child’s body reaches a certain size at an earlier age than expected, hormone changes are triggered, instigating the onset of puberty. Other research has suggested possible links between early puberty and weak maternal bonding, an absent father, the presence of an unrelated father figure and exposure to artificial light and television screens, and between later puberty and having older brothers. “The age of sexual maturation is highly adaptable,” explained Mr Hindmarsh. “The drive to continue the species is so strong that we have evolved a system that is extremely sensitive to change.”

Unfortunately, early puberty has serious physical and psychological implications for young girls. Besides social problems at school and issues with body-image and self-esteem, research suggests it may increase the risk of ovarian cancer and heart disease, as well as breast cancer, later on in life. To read about this worrying trend in more detail, please click here.

“Breast Healthy” lifestyle can help women with family history of breast cancer...
It has long been acknowledged that a healthy lifestyle can help to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. A recent study into the impact healthy living can have on this risk, published on the online journal Breast Cancer Research, has brought good news to women with a family history of breast cancer, who are often at a higher risk of developing the disease. Results suggest that “breast healthy” behaviour – regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting alcohol intake - can benefit those with a familial predisposition to the disease.

By observing the lifestyle habits of 85,000 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79, the study discovered that, in women who had at least one close relative with a breast cancer diagnosis after the age of 45 and who practised “breast healthy” behaviour, rates of breast cancer were reduced. Among those who exercised for 20 minutes five times a week, maintained a healthy body weight and who drank no more than one alcoholic drink a day, the rate of invasive breast cancer was 5.94 per 1,000 woman-years. Among those with the same family history but who did not follow the three healthy steps, the rate was significantly higher, at 6.79 per 1,000 woman-years.

Dr Gramling, who led the study at the University of Rochester Medical Centre, said: "Untangling the degree to which genes, environments, and behaviors contribute to the disease is difficult. But our study shows that engaging in a healthy lifestyle can help women, even when familial predisposition is involved." If you would like to read more about the study, please click here.

Laura Smith 21st October 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s News….
Breast Cancer awareness month events this week…
On Wednesday, Dr Alison Jones gave a highly informative and interesting lecture as the first of our Breast Cancer Awareness Month talks this week. Talking on the subject of ‘advances in drug treatment’, Dr Jones touched on past, present and future developments in breast cancer treatment and helped to explain how decisions about treatment are made, which drugs are available, why they are chosen and how drug treatment will evolve in the future. Afterwards, she held a question and answers session, giving many of our patients the opportunity to find out more about treatment. We would like to thank Dr Jones for sharing her expertise with us.

Also on Wednesday, we held our annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month sale, which was another huge success. All in all, we raised over £800 and this was largely thanks to Rada Ristic, who had kindly donated her extensive book collection to Cancerkin for fundraising when she died. We would like to thank all those who visited our stall and helped make the sale a hit. We really appreciate the hard work done by our volunteers who helped to collect donations and to hand out cake on the day – thank you!

Goodbye Lauren!
Lauren Newton, our Events and Development manager, will be leaving the Cancerkin team at the end of this week. She’s off on her travels before beginning a new job at Accenture, but will be back to support Cancerkin efforts in the future. We wish her all the best!

Creative writing in November…
Lily Seibold is back, holding her next creative writing session on Monday 1st November 2010 at 10am-3pm. This workshop will focus on the theme of ‘Friendship’. If you would like to attend, please email our Office Manager Habeeb at h.ahmed@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323 to book your place.

In the news…
Drug advances for triple negative breast cancer…
As we reported in On the pulse in September, scientists have recently made breakthrough progress in understanding the development of ‘triple negative’ breast cancer (TNBC), a particularly aggressive form of cancer that often affects younger women. As reported in The Telegraph this week, new advances in treatment for TNBC have been made, which could almost double survival times for many women.

Of the 46,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer each year, 15 to 25% are cases of TNBC and treatment options for women with the disease are currently very limited. Trials into a new drug called Iniparib have produced positive results, with survival times in patients with advanced TNBC increasing on average from 7.7 months to 12.3 months. The trial of 116 patients found that, on average, when combined with chemotherapy, Iniparib shrank tumours, stopped cancers getting worse for nearly six months and increased survival by almost 5 months.

Iniparib belongs to a group of anti-cancer drugs known as Parp-inhibitors. They work by inhibiting enzymes that normally repair damage to DNA but that, when taken over by cancer, advance its growth. Breakthrough Breast Cancer have welcomed the study’s research into this group of drugs and described its results as ‘encouraging.’ However, further clinical trials with the drug will be necessary before it can be made available to breast cancer patients and the final phase of trials is due to start next year. Once approved, the drug could benefit thousands of women with triple negative breast cancer. If you would like to read more about the trials, please click here.

Healthy eating can cut the risk of breast cancer…
In a society that is troubled by increasing levels of obesity, it is well known that being significantly overweight can contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer. In fact, according to an article published in The Daily Mail this week, obesity is thought to be the cause of up to a third of all cases. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the newspaper has released a series of articles detailing two new, but very different diets that both claim to reduce the risk of developing the disease. While both concentrate on helping us to lose weight, they also claim to have added cancer-fighting benefits.

A new book written by the American dietician Dr Mary Flynn advises that we should not obsessively count calories but should eat as many foods with cancer-fighting properties as we can. She suggests avoiding food without these properties, so that means no meat or fish. In her eyes, the ideal diet would be an entirely vegetarian one, which includes plenty of cancer-beating olive oil, wholegrain, vegetables and fruit, some dairy and eggs and even the odd glass of wine. If you would like to learn more about Dr Mary Flynn’s diet and to find examples of some detailed meal plans, click here.

Taking a quite different approach, a strict low calorie diet has appeared following a study conducted by the Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester and published in the International Journal of Obesity. A group of women kept to a specially formulated diet consisting of just 650 calories for two days a week, a figure that is a third of the daily recommended intake for women. After 6 months, scientists found the women lost weight and also had considerably lower levels of cancer-causing hormones in their blood. The science behind the diet suggests that when the body is deprived of food, less sugar reaches breast cells, making them less likely to divide and become cancerous. Commenting on the study, however, Dr Julie Sharp of Cancer Research UK said, ‘this study is not about breast cancer, it’s a study showing how different diet patterns affect weight loss and it’s misleading to draw any conclusions about breast cancer from this research.’ To read more about the findings of the study click here.

Possible link between breast cancer and air pollution…
Scientists in Canada have evidence to suggest that post-menopausal women living in areas with high levels of traffic-related air pollution are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers at the McGill University and the University of Montreal cross-referenced air pollution maps with maps displaying the home addresses of women diagnosed with the disease, and found that those living in areas with higher levels of nitrogen oxide, found in car exhaust fumes, were much more likely to develop breast cancer. They found that post-menopausal women living in the most polluted areas were almost twice as likely to develop the disease as those living in areas with the lowest levels.

Co-author of the study, Mark Goldberg, stated that, even after other risks contributing to the development of breast cancer had been factored in, for example smoking, drinking and hazards in the workplace, ‘ the results were startling’. However, another University of Montreal researcher, France Labrèche added that more research was required before conclusions could be drawn. She said “at the moment, we are not in a position to say with assurance that air pollution causes breast cancer. However, we can say that the possible link merits serious investigation." To read the article in full, please click here.

Laura Smith 15th October 2010
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin news…
Pilates event…
Next Tuesday, the 12th October, Cancerkin patient and qualified Pilates teacher of 18 years, Alison Swan is running a Charity Pilates day between 10am-5pm at the Royal Free Hospital Recreation Club. Aiming to raise awareness of breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to celebrate the first anniversary since her diagnosis, Alison will be aiming to teach as many people in one day as she can. Group classes will begin on the hour, every hour with several teachers from the Pilates Foundation on hand to help & provide a few private sessions to anyone who may like one. A masseuse will be available to provide all participants with luxury massages after their gentle exercise. All abilities, ages and sexes are welcome and there is no specific cost for the sessions, however we will be asking for donation to be given towards the Cancerkin Centre which helped Alison and hundreds of women like her come to terms with their diagnosis and treatment with positivity and courage.

If you would like to attend one of the group classes please just turn up at the Royal Free Recreation Club on Fleet Road or to book a session please email Alison at info@pilatesmatwork.co.uk.

Cancerkin’s new recruits…
After advertising the return of our internship programme a few weeks ago, three new interns have been selected and begun their programme with us this week. Henry Ezenwa will be working with Habeeb on Finance, IT and Office Management, Sumaiya Farooq will be assisting Asini on the East London Outreach Programme and Laura Smith is training in Events and Fundraising. The new recruits will be in the office all day, every day and will be very happy to help you in any way they can.

East London update….
As you know, as part of Cancerkin’s East London programme, we have started running monthly free complementary therapy sessions in East London. Last week, we held our third session at St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney and it was our most successful session to date. Nearly 40 women from all over East London benefited from a range of one to one and group therapies, including reflexology, massage, reiki, soul therapy and even dance therapy! The feedback we received from the patients was fantastic , with all saying how much they benefitted from receiving our treatments.

Cancerkin has not worked alone in its East London outreach and we would like to thank the Newham, Homerton, St Bartholomew and Whipps Cross hospitals and our local partner organisations for all their support in making this session a success. Cancerkin also wants to especially thank all the staff at St Joseph’s Hospice for all their support and assistance in ensuring the smooth running and success of the sessions.

Next week’s Breast Awareness Month events…
Next week Dr Alison Jones and Mr Tim Davidson will be giving talks about issues surrounding breast cancer in the board room of the Cancerkin Centre. The talks will place at the following times:

Dr Alison Jones MD FRCP : Wednesday 13th October 4pm
‘Advances in drug treatment’
(Please arrive at 3.30pm for tea and cakes)

Mr Tim Davidson ChM MRCP FRCS: Friday 15th October 11am
‘Current state of breast cancer treatment’
(Please arrive at 10.30am for coffee and croissants)

If you would like to attend either or both of these talks please email info@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323 to register your name.

On Wednesday 13th October, the same day as Dr Alison Jones’ talk, we will also be holding our annual breast cancer awareness sale. The stall will be positioned next to the Atrium by the main entrance to the hospital and will be open from 10am-4pm with a variety of products on sale, including many books on cancer, nutrition, positive thinking etc. We would be grateful for your support, so please do come in early before Dr Jones’ talk and pop along and see us.

In the news…
Reducing the risk of breast cancer…
In light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Telegraph published an article last week, breaking down the myths and theories about breast cancer – separating them from the core facts and realities. The fad theories that were dispelled included: coffee, stress, food additives, antiperspirants, underwired bras, pesticides and abortions – none of which are evidenced to give you cancer. Conversely, some of the big risks to avoid were nicotine, sustained long-term use of the contraceptive pill and HRT – all of which have a proven association with the risk of breast cancer development.

This list is not unique and all too often the media is flooded with the new ‘threat’ of breast cancer, so it was nice to see the article noting the positive things we can do to improve our chances of avoiding a diagnosis. Such examples included: breastfeeding and having children before the age of 35, cutting down on alcohol, taking regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and eating less fat. Aside from looking after yourself and perhaps avoiding some of the risks mentioned above, women all over should be regularly checking their breasts to look out for any unusual changes. Read the article in full, including other risks here.

Painless laser device could spot early signs of breast cancer…
A portable device using painless laser beams could be used within the next 5 years as a new non-invasive way to diagnosis breast cancer. This development would not only change the face of a typical mammography but also make the breast cancer diagnosis process faster, cheaper and more accurate.

In a sick person, unhealthy tissue has a very different chemical mix to normal healthy tissue. As a result, the laser will be able to recognise the abnormal composition of diseased tissue when placed on the skin’s surface. This technique could therefore allow doctors to spot the early signs of breast cancer in a painless and non-invasive manner, enabling them to quickly detect abnormalities and to decide if a tumour is benign or malignant. Only patients with malignant tumours would then be sent for biopsy, saving over 80,000 patients from having secondary procedures in the UK alone.
If you would like to read more about the development of this method, click here.

A novel way to raise breast awareness…
It has been revealed that the appearance of cryptic status updates on social networking site Facebook, is in fact the latest attempt to raise the profile of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Across the nation, women have been secretly invited by their female Facebook friends to post on their profile where it is they like to leave their handbag. As a result status’ have started to appear saying things like: ‘I like it on the floor’, ‘the stairs’ or even ‘the kitchen table’. These suggestive updates have been raising eyebrows across the web, with male user clueless as to their real meaning.

This year’s viral campaign, passed on from user to user by private message, follows the success of a previous series of updates whereby women simply posted a colour as their status. In this instance the colour written in the individual’s status referred to the colour of her bra that day. A novel, fun and somewhat risqué way to provoke discussion about breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the campaign has achieved its aim and got people talking about breast cancer and its risks. Moreover, in using Facebook, arguably the leader in the recent social network phenomenon, the campaign is engaging with younger women and teenage girls – a group we have covered several times in recent On the pulse’s as becoming more and more vulnerable to a breast cancer diagnosis. Why not show your support of this campaign and change your Facebook status!
To read more about this innovative approach to breast awareness please click here.

Lauren Newton 8th October 2010

l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

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

On the pulse

Cancerkin news…
Patient Support Group: Breast Cancer Awareness Month talks…
As part of our awareness programme throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Tim Davidson and Alison Jones will be giving talks about current issues surrounding breast cancer. The talks will be held in the board room of the Cancerkin Centre. Refreshments will be provided on both occasions so please:

Dr Alison Jones MD FRCP : Wednesday 13th October 4pm
(Please arrive at 3.30pm for tea and cakes)
Mr Tim Davidson ChM MRCP FRCS: Friday 15th October 11am
(Please arrive at 10.30am for coffee and croissants)

This will be a great opportunity to find out about any new developments in breast surgery and oncology and to ask any questions you may have. To register your attendance for these talks please email info@cancerkin.org.uk. Due to the capacity of our boardroom, numbers will be limited to 40/50 patients. To ensure you don’t miss out please register your name as soon as possible.

Gina Swims for Cancerkin….
This Sunday, October 3rd, Cancerkin patient Gina Atherton will be swimming 1 mile to raise £1,000 for Cancerkin. The swim will also help celebrate Gina’s 50th birthday, raise awareness of issues surrounding breast cancer and promote the services of Cancerkin during national Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Gina has been busy fundraising and has raised over £600 so far. If you would like to help her meet her £1,000 target, support her personal challenge and help Cancerkin in the process please visit her JustGiving site here to offer a donation. In the meantime we wish her all the best for Sunday!

Music Therapy…
Unfortunately music therapist Karinna is starting a permanent role with the NHS and thus sadly will not be able to run the taster sessions originally planned at Cancerkin. We are currently looking into the possibility of other therapists, so keep your eyes peeled for more musical news to come!

In the news…
Being a partner of a breast cancer sufferer is hard…
It is widely acknowledged that being the support network to those suffering with breast cancer can often be tiring, confusing, stressful and emotional, as partners, parents and friends too battle with the outcomes of living with a breast cancer diagnosis. However a Danish study published in the news this week has gone so far as to say that for men whose partners suffer with breast cancer, the impact could be potentially health damaging. The study found that men watching their partners fight cancer were 39% more likely to need hospital care for mood problems – thought to be triggered by the feeling that they need to be the strong one and therefore often deal with their feelings in silence.

The research was carried out at the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology in Copenhagen and used the records of more than 1million men aged 30+. All of the men had no history of mental illness and had lived with their partners for more than 5 years. Over the next 13 years, breast cancer was diagnosed in the partners of 20,538 of these men and subsequently 180 of them were hospitalised with severe mood disorders - a greater proportion than from men whose partners were healthy. The study also found that the likelihood of hospitalisation on these men was affected by: (a) the severity of the breast cancer and (b) if the breast cancer returned after treatment.

Professor Christoffer Johansen, who led the study, said: ""We suggest that some sort of screening of the partners of cancer patients in general and those of breast cancer patients in particular for depressive symptoms might be important for preventing this devastating consequence of cancer." Cancerkin’s body of Experienced Patients are always available to talk through any issues patients or their family members and close friends may be experiencing. Having been through breast cancer themselves, our experienced patients can sympathise with most issues and offer advice or simply listen to your concerns. To talk in confidence with one of our Experienced Patients please contact the office on 0207 830 2323.
To read the rest of the article please click here.

Genetic link between breast cancer in young women and their relatives…
A study published in the British Journal of Cancer (BJC) has found a genetic link between both male and female relatives of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 35. Studying the parents and siblings of 504 women, scientists found an increased risk of relatives developing prostate, lung, brain and urinary cancers. Interestingly, the risk was largely similar among the relatives of women who did not carry known faulty genes that increase the chance of breast cancer, suggesting that there may be other undiscovered gene disorders causing cancer in young women and their families. This finding suggests that there is further work to do to help identify more people who might be susceptible. Women who inherit one of the faulty genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2 have a 55% to 85% risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. However this only accounts for between 2-5% of all breast cancers – the remaining women affected do not carry these high-risk genes.

Professor John Hopper, from the Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne, who led the study said: "These results are surprising and novel, and could be pointing to a new cancer genetic syndrome. Just as the link between male and female breast cancers in some families led UK researchers to find the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2, the results of this study could help scientists discover new cancer susceptibility genes." Dr Lesley Walker, the director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, which owns the BJC, largely agreed saying: “This study is important in suggesting a strategy to help identify other genes which significantly increase a woman's breast cancer risk. More studies with larger numbers will help confirm these risks."
Read the full article here.

Breast cancer rates fall as the use of HRT dwindles…
A study conducted in Canada and published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has found that as the use of HRT treatment dropped in recent years, so too did the number of cases of breast cancer. Results showed that that use of HRT dropped from 12.7% in 2002 to 4.9% in 2004, during which time breast cancer rates also dropped by 9.6%, even though the same number of women were having mammography tests. However, between 2004 and 2006 the use of HRT remained stable but breast cancer rates began to increase again. Researches on the project have attributed this latter surge in breast cancer to the fact that the decreased use in HRT did not stop breast cancer, but rather lead to tumours growing at a slower rate.

Dr Prithwish De of the Canadian Cancer Society said "Such a rebound might be expected if occult hormone-sensitive tumours were merely slowed by the withdrawal of hormone replacement therapy rather than prevented by it. If so, hormone replacement therapy may be thought to act as a promoter rather than as a putative cause of breast cancer. However, further follow-up data as well as information on the incidence trend of oestrogen receptor–positive breast cancer are needed to confirm this hypothesis and trend." Dr Sarah Rawklings, Head of Policy & Education at the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer agreed saying: "This study supports existing research into the link between HRT and breast cancer. It will be important to continue to study the effects of HRT on breast cancer incidence and development. Women who are concerned about this should contact their GP before starting, stopping or changing their HRT."
Read the full story here

Lauren Newton 30th September 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

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

On the pulse

Cancerkin news…
October preparations…
Cancerkin would like to thank those people who have already picked up collection boxes to display in their workplace, children’s school, church or local shops. With plenty left it is never to early to get the ball rolling and help Cancerkin raise money and awareness during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you would like to get your hands on a collection box please email Lauren Newton at l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk .

In the news…
Cancer awareness hits government agenda…
The government has backed new campaigns alerting people to early signs of breast, bowel and lung cancer to the tune of £9million. It is estimated that these campaigns could help save around 10,000 of the 120,000 lives these cancers affect each year – matching the best survival rates in other European countries. The £9million backing would be available for 59 local campaigns from January 2011 and will focus on supporting projects that encourage people to visit their doctor with any concerns or early symptoms they may be experiencing.

Creative campaigns are gaining more and more coverage, with the government hoping that local areas will tap into social marketing mediums to get their message across, including sites such as Twitter and Facebook. An example of the imaginative campaigns the government hopes their investment will help promote is the coughing bus stop in Doncaster. Designed to highlight coughing as an early symptom of lung cancer the campaign led to an increase in the number of people who visited their GP for an X-ray. As a result, the number of cases diagnosed in one month rose by almost 60% (from 32 to 54) compared with the same month in the previous year.

Symptoms of breast cancer include changes to the size and shape of the breasts; and a lump, swelling or thickening in one breast or armpit. Skin changes can include puckering, dimpling, inflammation or redness of the skin, and there may be changes to the nipple, including rashes or discharge. Mr Paul Burstow as spokesperson for the government initiative said the aim of their investment in the campaigns was to save lives and achieve cancer survival rates that were among the best in the world: "We know that generally the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the outlook. That's why our campaign will help people to be more alert to the early signs and symptoms of cancer and encourage them to seek medical advice as soon as possible..In England we are lagging behind European countries when it comes to the common but big killer cancers such as breast, bowel and lung…the NHS is spending at European levels but still not delivering European cancer survival rates.”
Read more about the campaigns alongside he early signs of all three cancers here

Rigorous exercise before cancer treatment is ‘highly risky’...
Scientists are recommending that those about to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment relax and avoid intense activity for at least 48 hours before receiving treatment. The advice comes after a recent study found that psychological or physical stress on the body can aid cancer cells in resisting the effects of treatment; priming the cells for survival.

A series of tests found that a stress-sensitive protein called heat shock factor-1, which usually helps tissues and cells cope with stress actually activated another protein, known as Hsp27 that helped keep tumour cells alive even after they were exposed to radiation and chemotherapy. Hsp27, which helps to block cell death, interacts with a third protein, p21, which allows cells to repair themselves and keep dividing. When the cells were put under stress, levels of Hsp27 reached their height within 48 hours, suggesting the protein is highly active in the two days following any stressful event that activates heat shock factor-1.

Dr Ilangovan, a lead researcher on the project said ‘It is not proven in a clinical setting but our hypothesis leads us to strongly caution cancer patients about avoiding stress because that stress might trigger recurrence of cancer cell growth.’ Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said ‘This early research should be treated with caution as it has only been tested on cells in a laboratory and not on cancer patients. It is unrealistic that people who are about to undergo cancer treatment will be able to avoid stress. If you have any concerns talk to your doctor or nurse.’
You can find the rest of the article here

Breakthrough in breast cancer amongst women with BRCA1 gene...
Cancer Research UK scientists have identified a DNA region which can increase or decrease the high breast cancer risk associated with the BRCA1 gene. After studying the genomes of over 2,300 women with the BRCA1 gene, the findings were uncovered by Dr Antonis Antoniou from Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidomilogy at the University of Cambridge and published in Nature Genetics. Dr Antoniou said: We’ve found a DNA region that acts like a volume control – to turn up or down the risk of developing breast cancer from faults in the BRCA1 gene. Our discovery is the first step in a much larger study to identify genetic factors that modify breast cancer risk in women carrying BRCA1 mutations, and ultimately could help assess the risk for each woman and monitor for the disease.”

Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK’s director of cancer information, said: “We’re dedicated to unravelling cancer risk so we can provide doctors with better tools to identify who is at risk and help select the best treatment. This research provides evidence that by carrying out genome wide association studies in certain subgroups - such as people with BRCA1 mutations - we can identify other breast and ovarian cancer risk factors which have previously been missed.”

On average, around 65%of women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene will develop breast cancer - and around 40% ovarian cancer - by the age of 70.

To read the full article please go to the Cancer Research website

Lauren Newton 23rd September 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

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

On the pulse

Cancerkin news…
Therapy updates…
With the summer months drawing to a close there are a few notable changes and introductions to our therapy programme:

1. Pilates: Kara Dressel our resident Pilates instructor will her resume classes this week, Thursday 16th September at the usual time of 1.30-2.30pm.
2. Hypnotherapy: The Cancerkin office is now taking bookings for new hypnotherapy sessions starting on Monday 4th October. If you are interested in booking a session or would like more information about hypnotherapy please call the office on 0207 830 2323.
3. Music Therapy: Cancerkin is pleased to announce the trial of this new therapy. Pilot sessions will be run across the following Fridays: 24th September, 1st October, 8thOctober. Again, if you are interested in trying out this creative and fun new therapy sessions please call the Cancerkin Centre to book a slot. These sessions will be run on a one-to-one basis.
4. Yoga: From Friday 17th September, Martin will be away on holiday for three weeks with the class resuming on Friday 8th October.

Breast cancer awareness month…
Our fundraising ideas page can now be found on our website, so if you were thinking about doing something extraordinary for Cancerkin this Breast Cancer Awareness month, be sure to check it out for ideas. With suggestions for work fundraising, school fundraising and even individual initiatives there is something there for everyone. In a week where the Metro published a story rating UK citizens in the Top 10 of charity givers, there is no reason not to get involved! Do something amazing this October – have fun and help hundreds of women in the process!

In the news…
Recreating history…
The campaign “Everyone is Art” is taking a rather creative approach to highlight issues surrounding breast cancer for this years Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). Asking members of the public to upload their breast cancer stories and pictures - of themselves and their loved ones – artist Samira Harris will use the photos to recreate a giant version of Botticelli’s Renaissance painting, Birth of Venus. 1,096 of the photos submitted will be used in the homage, a figure that replicates the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Europe every day.

Launched by Samsung Electronics Group, the campaign is also associated with 17 different European breast cancer charities including the UK based charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. A spokesperson for Samsung Electronics said: “Samsung is appealing for photos of men and women who have been affected by breast cancer, either directly or through a loved one. We are also looking for photos of the hard-working and inspiring pink ribbon campaigners who take part in marathons or dye their hair pink to promote awareness."

Anyone interested can upload their pictures by visiting the website www.morethantalk.eu/everyoneisart. The deadline for images is 24th September. The finished composition will be revealed on 14th October 2010, Samsung’s European Breast Cancer Awareness Day; at The Royal Exchange in Central London. After this it will be sold, with all profits going towards European breast cancer charities.
For more information click here


Node testing to waiting times for surgery…
A new lymph node testing technique known as OSNA - On-table Sentinel Node Analysis is able to test lymph nodes for cancerous cells on the same day a patient would go in to have their lump removed. Results can come back within the hour and if the nodes have to be removed, it can be done straight away rather than in a later operation, as was the previously the case. The hope is that this new technique will negate the need for a second operation, thus preventing unnecessary stress and strain on the patient whilst also drastically cutting operation waiting times (and thus patient service times) as the node test results are available almost immediately. Currently the high tech procedure is only being used at 5 hospitals across the UK.

To find out more about OSNA please click here

Breast cancer website to predict survival chances…?
Website www.predict.nhs.uk is being launched today to help breast cancer patients predict their chances of survival. Allowing you to enter data such as your age, size and width of tumour, grade of cancer and whether the tumours detection came from screening or home inspection, the website predicts the likelihood of survival for the next 5-10 years, as well as offering suggestions on extra benefits such as other drug treatments. Developed by a team at Cambridge breast unit at Cambridge University Hospital, the website was designed using data on more than 5,600 patients from the Eastern Cancer Registration and Information Centre for East Anglia, including a range of hospitals and trusts. To ensure an accurate range of cancer survival across the UK, this data was then cross-referenced with information from the West Midlands. As the website’s sole premise is to make ‘predictions’ and give ‘advice’, the need for accuracy is paramount and as such it is planned that the website will be continually updated as more and more data becomes available.

Senior Policy officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Meg McArthur encouraged all users of the site to talk through the results with their breast consultant saying although the “website could potentially lead to improved treatment choices and could help the partnership between patients and healthcare professionals, it is important for patients to work with their specialist to choose the right drug treatment following breast cancer surgery”.

To read more about the ‘Predict’ website as well as some other findings about calcium and breast cancer published in the British Journal of Cancer this week please click here.

Lauren Newton 15th September 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin news…
Internship Programme…
A couple of weeks ago we mentioned the planned revival of our Internship Scheme. Having advertised the positions of East London Project Intern and Office Manager/Administrator Intern on our website, various University websites and with the Government Graduate Talent Pool, we have just over a week until the application closing date on Friday 17th September. If you know of any sparky individuals who would be interested, or could benefit from the Cancerkin experience then please direct them to the ‘About Us’ section of our website where job specifications for both roles can be found. If you have any further queries or would like to apply (with a CV and covering letter) please email Lauren Newton at l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk .

In the news…
Advances in tackling aggressive forms of breast cancer...
Over the weekend The Telegraph reported that scientists believe they have made a breakthrough in understanding how ‘triple negative’ breast cancer develops. An aggressive form of breast cancer which tends to affect younger women, ‘triple negative’ breast cancer affects around 9,000 women of the 46,000 diagnosed with breast cancer each year and can currently only be treated by surgery and chemotherapy.

Triple negative breast cancer can not be treated with drugs such as Tamoxifen or Herceptin as the tumours that develop as part of the disease are not driven by the hormones oestrogen or progesterone or by the HER2 protein, (as is the case for most other breast cancer forms). The mortality rates for triple negative breast cancer are also higher than average when compared with other forms of breast cancers.

Scientists who conducted the recent study found that triple negative cancers develop in types of breast cells called intermediaries or progenitors – previously it was believed they were found in stem cells. Furthermore, these cells have not yet become completely functional cells, so inception is possible. Dr Matt Smalley, of Breakthrough Breast Cancer's Institute of Cancer Research in London, described the results of their laboratory study with mice as "a major advance in our understanding…it means we can now look very closely at where the disease forms and which genes are involved in that process. This knowledge will greatly improve the chance of finding effective new targeted treatments for breast cancer patients in the future." As a result of this research it is possible that drugs could be created which could stop the growth of tumours or possibly stop them developing at all. It is hoped that this in turn will impact on the number of women who die each year from breast cancer.

Read the full story here

Pre-emptive breast & ovary removal saves more lives than you think…
Recent research which followed nearly 2,500 women with certain genetic predispositions and mutations prone to developing breast or ovarian cancer, found that pre-emptive mastectomies, ovary and/or fallopian tube removals nearly eliminated the development of either cancer. Virginia Kaklamani, an associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University and a co-author of the study said: "This is the first study to prove women survive longer with these preventative surgeries and shows the importance of genetic testing when there is a family history of early breast or ovarian cancer,".

All of the 2,482 women who took part in the study had mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which significantly increases their chances of developing ovarian or breast cancer. Some of the results included: Women with mutations in either gene who opted for prophylactic mastectomies effectively eliminated their future risk of breast cancer; 7% of women in the study who did not undergo the surgery developed breast cancer in the same period.

Kaklamani said the study clearly showed the potential benefits of pre-emptive surgery as well as highlighting the importance of genetic testing to detect whether the gene mutations are present saying: "Primary care physicians, gynaecologists and women need to be more aware that these tests exist”.

Read the full article here.

Lauren Newton 7th September 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk

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

On the pulse

Cancerkin News…
Office wonder women…
Cancerkin would like to thank all of the women who have been giving their time to help behind the reception desk. Helping with booking appointments, welcoming patients and other administrative duties, their assistance and kindness has made a real contribution to the day to day running of the Cancerkin Centre. We are currently advertising the receptionist role and hope to have a new addition to the Cancerkin team. If you know of anyone who would be interested in the role please contact V.Todd@Cancerkin.org.uk.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month…
For those of you who may not be aware, October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To mark the occasion a number of Cancerkin patients and supporters have generously began organising their own fundraising initiatives. On the 3rd October Gina Atherton will be swimming a mile in celebration of her 50th birthday and in hope of raising £1,000 for Cancerkin. Our resident pilates teacher Kara Dressel is also organising some fundraising yoga and pilates sessions with a number of organisations across North London. We would like to thank these women for their initiative and thinking of Cancerkin during this month. If any of you would like to organise your own fundraising drives in honour of Cancerkin during Breast Cancer Awareness Month there are plenty of things for you to do, a few ideas include: a cake sale at work; a car boot sale at the weekend; donating the proceeds of your eBay auction; own clothes day at school; Come dine with me etc.

The Cancerkin Centre have many collection cans in the office that we are hoping to distribute amongst our supports during October. If you are able to take a can to work with you and canvas support amongst your colleagues, or know of a local shop or supermarket that would be willing to hold a collection can in store during Breast Cancer Awareness Month please do get in touch with Lauren Newton l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk.

Although we will be predominantly looking to raise awareness of breast cancer and its risks during this month we are also hoping to fit in some fundraising drives as well. Like many other charities the recession has taken its toll on the number of grants and donations we receive from fundraising bodies, so we need the help of our supporters more than ever! If you would like to do something amazing for Cancerkin get in touch today. We really appreciate it all the support we receive.

In The News….
Prevent Cancer through Exercise…
Research by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has found that around 10,000 Britons each year could prevent breast or bowel cancer by exercising more regularly. Apparently even moderate exercise such as brisk walk could help reduce the risk for thousands of people. To prove beneficial the WCRF say that the activity only needs to increase an individual’s heart rate. For breast cancer specifically, the report states that around 5,000 women could avoid developing the disease by taking moderately active exercise for around 45 minutes a day.

Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for WCRF, said: "There is very strong evidence that being physically active is important for cancer prevention. You can reduce your cancer risk just by making small changes...by taking up walking as a hobby or even walking to the shops instead of taking the bus or car, people can make a real difference to their health."
Read the full article here.

Watercress - the new cancer superfood…
Research carried out at Southampton University found that volunteers, who ate 80grams of watercress, produced elevated levels of cancer-fighting molecules in their blood within 6 hours of eating. Furthermore, it was found that extracts from watercress can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. The 80gram measurement used in the research is equivalent to 1 portion of fruit/veg towards the recommended 5 a day.

The results of the pilot study suggest that not only could eating watercress help prevent the development of breast cancer but also help recovering breast cancer sufferers avoid a recurrence of the disease. If unequivocally proved, watercress will be added to the other list of cancer superfoods rich such as broccoli and cabbage.

The research, led by Professor Graham Packham from the Cancer Research UK centre at Southampton University, was reported in the British Journal of Nutrition. The researchers said: "This pilot study suggests that dietary intake of watercress may be sufficient to modulate this potential anti-cancer pathway." However, to certify the benefits of eating watercress they believe that further research will need to be done with a larger number of patients. Concentration will now fall on finding out which chemical (isothiocyanates) in watercress helped to inhibit cancer growth, as it is yet unclear.

Hazel Nunn, Cancer Research UK's health information manager, said: "Watercress may well have benefits but there's no reason to believe that it should be superior to a generally healthy, balanced diet that is high in fibre, vegetables and fruit and low in red and processed meat, salt, saturated fat and alcohol."

For more information you can read the full article here.

Lauren Newton 20th August 2010
l.newton@cancerkin.org.uk