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
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Monday, 15 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
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
Monday, 8 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
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
Monday, 1 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.
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.
Monday, 25 January 2010
On the pulse - for people affected by breast cancer
In the news…
Social Factors affect access to cancer services
It was reported last week that patients from more deprived areas were still more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage in their disease, thus affecting their chances of survival. Researchers from University College, London examined figures for the three most common cancers - breast, colorectal and lung, over a 6 year period. The figures showed that 564,821 people over the age of 50 were admitted to an NHS hospital with a cancer diagnosis. The study showed that patients in more deprived areas were more likely to be admitted as emergencies and less likely to have received the recommended procedures as were older people and women. Sarah Woolnough, head of policy at Cancer Research UK, said :
"We know that in this country, cancer is often diagnosed late when it is at an advanced stage, and this is a particular problem among deprived groups. This can have a knock-on effect on the type of treatment that can be given and, ultimately, on cancer survival.
"The updated Cancer Plan - the Cancer Reform Strategy - recognises these problems and is strongly prioritising early diagnosis and action to reduce inequalities in cancer treatment. But this is a critical issue and one that we believe must remain a priority for the future."
Read more at Cancer Research and BBC News
Screening errors
A report on the BBC online refers to a US study to cut the number of mistakes made by medical staff looking for breast and cervical cancers. The study found that the amount of time the observers spent looking for something depended on how often if appeared.
"If you don't find it often, you often don't find it," said lead author, Jeremy Wolfe of Harvard Medical School. The authors recommend doing a booster exercise before they start work to help them visualise what they are looking for and so be more likely to see it when it is there. In another article related to this topic, the Times reports on a computerised technique for breast cancer screening. Professor Sir Michael Brady, who has spent 20 years developing mammography software said:
“Mammograms are notoriously difficult to interpret, even experienced radiologists evaluate scans differently, so automating the system would make the process much more reliable.” It is thought that up to 20% of cancer cases are missed and 80% of those recalled for a biopsy are healthy. In one study, two radiographers were asked to examine identical images and reported back with different findings. Sir Michael argues that the new software, called Volpara, would dramatically reduce discrepancies. Read more in The Times
Would you lie about having cancer?
Many papers have been reporting this week on the story concerning Mo Mowlam, who was revealed to have concealed the severity of her cancer to her then boss, Tony Blair. There have been several articles asking if it is ever right to keep this a secret or indeed to tell a lie about it, perhaps to secure or save a job. Read more here:
Daily Telegraph
Daily Mail
‘Beer can fight breast cancer’
On a lighter and more alcoholic note, it was reported in the Daily Mail that researchers at a German Cancer Researh Centre have discovered that beer contains a molecule called xanthohumol, which blocks the excessive action of oestrogen, which can in turn cause some forms of breast cancer.
Facebook bra colour craze
On a lighter and more fun note – there are reports of what is thought to be a breast cancer awareness drive, where users are referring to the colour of the bra they are wearing to update their Facebook status. Most popular colours are black, white and beige, but there are a few more interesting ones from female and (and some) male users of the social networking site! Read more here Daily Telegraph
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 20th January 2010
Social Factors affect access to cancer services
It was reported last week that patients from more deprived areas were still more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage in their disease, thus affecting their chances of survival. Researchers from University College, London examined figures for the three most common cancers - breast, colorectal and lung, over a 6 year period. The figures showed that 564,821 people over the age of 50 were admitted to an NHS hospital with a cancer diagnosis. The study showed that patients in more deprived areas were more likely to be admitted as emergencies and less likely to have received the recommended procedures as were older people and women. Sarah Woolnough, head of policy at Cancer Research UK, said :
"We know that in this country, cancer is often diagnosed late when it is at an advanced stage, and this is a particular problem among deprived groups. This can have a knock-on effect on the type of treatment that can be given and, ultimately, on cancer survival.
"The updated Cancer Plan - the Cancer Reform Strategy - recognises these problems and is strongly prioritising early diagnosis and action to reduce inequalities in cancer treatment. But this is a critical issue and one that we believe must remain a priority for the future."
Read more at Cancer Research and BBC News
Screening errors
A report on the BBC online refers to a US study to cut the number of mistakes made by medical staff looking for breast and cervical cancers. The study found that the amount of time the observers spent looking for something depended on how often if appeared.
"If you don't find it often, you often don't find it," said lead author, Jeremy Wolfe of Harvard Medical School. The authors recommend doing a booster exercise before they start work to help them visualise what they are looking for and so be more likely to see it when it is there. In another article related to this topic, the Times reports on a computerised technique for breast cancer screening. Professor Sir Michael Brady, who has spent 20 years developing mammography software said:
“Mammograms are notoriously difficult to interpret, even experienced radiologists evaluate scans differently, so automating the system would make the process much more reliable.” It is thought that up to 20% of cancer cases are missed and 80% of those recalled for a biopsy are healthy. In one study, two radiographers were asked to examine identical images and reported back with different findings. Sir Michael argues that the new software, called Volpara, would dramatically reduce discrepancies. Read more in The Times
Would you lie about having cancer?
Many papers have been reporting this week on the story concerning Mo Mowlam, who was revealed to have concealed the severity of her cancer to her then boss, Tony Blair. There have been several articles asking if it is ever right to keep this a secret or indeed to tell a lie about it, perhaps to secure or save a job. Read more here:
Daily Telegraph
Daily Mail
‘Beer can fight breast cancer’
On a lighter and more alcoholic note, it was reported in the Daily Mail that researchers at a German Cancer Researh Centre have discovered that beer contains a molecule called xanthohumol, which blocks the excessive action of oestrogen, which can in turn cause some forms of breast cancer.
Facebook bra colour craze
On a lighter and more fun note – there are reports of what is thought to be a breast cancer awareness drive, where users are referring to the colour of the bra they are wearing to update their Facebook status. Most popular colours are black, white and beige, but there are a few more interesting ones from female and (and some) male users of the social networking site! Read more here Daily Telegraph
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 20th January 2010
Friday, 8 January 2010
On the pulse....for people affected by breast cancer
Cancerkin’s news update….
New Year
We would like to welcome you back to On the pulse in 2010 and wish all our readers a very happy new year! We look forward to hearing your views and seeing you at the Cancerkin Centre.
Appointments
May we please remind all patients that if you are unable to attend an appointment booked at the Centre (or if you are going to be late), you should please contact us (as early as possible) to let us know. We realise that there are many reasons why you may not be able to make it in, not least because of the very cold and icy start to the year, or you may be feeling unwell, but please do give us as much advance notice as possible. If you are unable to telephone, then please ask someone to call for you. Appointments with our therapists are much in demand and we want to ensure that as many of our patients as possible get to benefit from all the treatments and therapies on offer.
In the news…
‘Junk DNA’
Cancer Research UK scientists have found that a group of rogue genetic messengers, produced by DNA sequences commonly known as ‘junk DNA’, may be able to help diagnose breast and bowel cancer. They discovered that 7 of these messengers are more common in breast cancer cells. Lead researcher Dr Christina Tufarelli said:
“The next step is to find out if the switching on of these genes is driving cancer or if they are a result of the cancer. Even if they are innocent bystanders of cancer, they could be useful biomarkers helping us to diagnose or monitor the disease”. She added: “If this’ junk DNA’ does turn out to play a role in cancer then we could be at the tip of the iceberg in understanding a completely new mechanism behind the disease.”
Read more here: junk DNA
Pomegranates
US scientists have carried out tests the results of which suggest that natural compounds in pomegranates may prevent the growth of breast cancer cells, although they were keen to note that these early findings do not mean that eating pomegranates will prevent or treat the disease. Researchers were investigating whether chemicals in this fruit could block the action of aromatase, an enzyme which plays a key role in driving the growth of hormone dependent forms of breast cancer. The findings have been published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. Read more here: Pomegranates
More on scans
A letter published in the Guardian on 2nd January 2010 to their resident doctor, Tom Smith, asked about the radiation risk of annual mammograms versus tests every three years. The doctor suggested that an annual x-ray delivers a tiny dose of radiation equivalent to what you’d receive in a medium-haul flight and suggested that this had to be weighed against an undetected cancer developing over a three year period. Read his full answer here: The Guardian
There has also been a lot of discussion on this issue in the media in the US in recent weeks. Two studies were reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, which also published an editorial on the subject of the potential risks of increased cancer cases and deaths caused by what they refer to as the overuse and inappropriate use of CT scans. According to one of these reports, it is possible that 1-2% of cancer deaths in the US every year in future may be due to a cancer caused by a CT scan performed many years earlier. They estimate that 72 million scans were performed in the US in 2007 and concluded that 29,000 future cancers could be related to these scans. The editorial notes:
“A popular paradigm for health care presumes that more information, more testing and more technology inevitably leads to better care. (These studies) counsel a re examination of that paradigm for nuclear imaging.”
In his blog, Dr Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, says:
“CT scans have become the new x-ray. They have replaced the history and the physical. They have become the ‘defensive medicine fallback’ since doctors tell me frequently that they have to get the scan to protect themselves on the very outside possibility that, for example, the patient with a headache may have a brain tumour…”
His view seems to be that too many CT scans in the US are not medically necessary. In addition to his many other views on this topic, he believes that patients need to take more responsibility for their health and participate more in the decision making process. Read more of his blog here: Dr Len's blog
Long term cancer survivors need more support
A story covered in much of the press over the last week was based on a report by Macmillan on the increasing numbers of long term cancer survivors who are not receiving the help they need to deal with their condition. So while the very good news is that an increasing number of people are surviving cancer (of the 2m people currently living with or having survived cancer, over 1.2m were diagnosed more than 5 years ago), the downside is that many are not receiving the long term care and support they need, as they strive to deal with the long term side effects of both the cancer itself and the treatment they received for the cancer. One of these side effects is noted as lymphoedema. It is thought that this situation is likely to get worse as the number of people diagnosed with cancer is increasing by 3.2% per year in the UK. To read Macmillan’s press release, click here
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk)
8th January 2010
New Year
We would like to welcome you back to On the pulse in 2010 and wish all our readers a very happy new year! We look forward to hearing your views and seeing you at the Cancerkin Centre.
Appointments
May we please remind all patients that if you are unable to attend an appointment booked at the Centre (or if you are going to be late), you should please contact us (as early as possible) to let us know. We realise that there are many reasons why you may not be able to make it in, not least because of the very cold and icy start to the year, or you may be feeling unwell, but please do give us as much advance notice as possible. If you are unable to telephone, then please ask someone to call for you. Appointments with our therapists are much in demand and we want to ensure that as many of our patients as possible get to benefit from all the treatments and therapies on offer.
In the news…
‘Junk DNA’
Cancer Research UK scientists have found that a group of rogue genetic messengers, produced by DNA sequences commonly known as ‘junk DNA’, may be able to help diagnose breast and bowel cancer. They discovered that 7 of these messengers are more common in breast cancer cells. Lead researcher Dr Christina Tufarelli said:
“The next step is to find out if the switching on of these genes is driving cancer or if they are a result of the cancer. Even if they are innocent bystanders of cancer, they could be useful biomarkers helping us to diagnose or monitor the disease”. She added: “If this’ junk DNA’ does turn out to play a role in cancer then we could be at the tip of the iceberg in understanding a completely new mechanism behind the disease.”
Read more here: junk DNA
Pomegranates
US scientists have carried out tests the results of which suggest that natural compounds in pomegranates may prevent the growth of breast cancer cells, although they were keen to note that these early findings do not mean that eating pomegranates will prevent or treat the disease. Researchers were investigating whether chemicals in this fruit could block the action of aromatase, an enzyme which plays a key role in driving the growth of hormone dependent forms of breast cancer. The findings have been published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. Read more here: Pomegranates
More on scans
A letter published in the Guardian on 2nd January 2010 to their resident doctor, Tom Smith, asked about the radiation risk of annual mammograms versus tests every three years. The doctor suggested that an annual x-ray delivers a tiny dose of radiation equivalent to what you’d receive in a medium-haul flight and suggested that this had to be weighed against an undetected cancer developing over a three year period. Read his full answer here: The Guardian
There has also been a lot of discussion on this issue in the media in the US in recent weeks. Two studies were reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, which also published an editorial on the subject of the potential risks of increased cancer cases and deaths caused by what they refer to as the overuse and inappropriate use of CT scans. According to one of these reports, it is possible that 1-2% of cancer deaths in the US every year in future may be due to a cancer caused by a CT scan performed many years earlier. They estimate that 72 million scans were performed in the US in 2007 and concluded that 29,000 future cancers could be related to these scans. The editorial notes:
“A popular paradigm for health care presumes that more information, more testing and more technology inevitably leads to better care. (These studies) counsel a re examination of that paradigm for nuclear imaging.”
In his blog, Dr Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, says:
“CT scans have become the new x-ray. They have replaced the history and the physical. They have become the ‘defensive medicine fallback’ since doctors tell me frequently that they have to get the scan to protect themselves on the very outside possibility that, for example, the patient with a headache may have a brain tumour…”
His view seems to be that too many CT scans in the US are not medically necessary. In addition to his many other views on this topic, he believes that patients need to take more responsibility for their health and participate more in the decision making process. Read more of his blog here: Dr Len's blog
Long term cancer survivors need more support
A story covered in much of the press over the last week was based on a report by Macmillan on the increasing numbers of long term cancer survivors who are not receiving the help they need to deal with their condition. So while the very good news is that an increasing number of people are surviving cancer (of the 2m people currently living with or having survived cancer, over 1.2m were diagnosed more than 5 years ago), the downside is that many are not receiving the long term care and support they need, as they strive to deal with the long term side effects of both the cancer itself and the treatment they received for the cancer. One of these side effects is noted as lymphoedema. It is thought that this situation is likely to get worse as the number of people diagnosed with cancer is increasing by 3.2% per year in the UK. To read Macmillan’s press release, click here
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk)
8th January 2010
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer
Cancerkin's news update….
Funding announcement
Cancerkin has secured a grant of £10,000 from Capacity Builders, a Government sponsored organisation which provides support to third sector organisations i.e. charities. The grant is from the Modernisation Fund Grants Programme which focuses on organisations providing services to those worst hit by the recession. The funding is for Cancerkin's project to provide support to those affected by breast cancer in East London.
In the news…
CT scans may cause more cancers than previously thought
Scientists are claiming that CT scans can be triggering cancer in as many as one in 80 patients. This is far higher than the one in 1000 odds that are generally quoted. Although American findings where CT scans are more routinely offered, there is now the possibility that this new development will hold true for the UK. During 2008/9 in England there were a total of almost 36 million scans, x-rays and tests involving ultrasound, magnetic and radio waves, and radiation, of which 3.3 million were CT scans.
This story can be found in:
Daily Telegraph: CT scans may pose higher risk of cancer than first thought
The Independent: CT scans 'could raise the risk of cancer
Daily Express: Under the microscope
Alopecia
Hair specialists used to see women with hair loss problems twice a year, now they're getting them once a week. Yet, surprisingly little is known about female hair loss or alopecia. A recent survey revealed that as many as one in three women over the age of 25 will suffer from some sort of hair loss.
An article in the Telegraph takes a first person perspective on female hair loss. Highlighting that scientists don't know what triggers alopecia or how to stop it.
Nanosensors
The Sun has a story about a microchip that can detect cancer in 20 minutes by using nanosensors to seek out specific proteins in blood. These tests are meant to detect prostate and breast cancer biomarkers. The research was reported in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
New breast cancer drug offers last hope to women
Forty per cent of women with an aggressive and advanced form of breast cancer who were given the treatment in clinical trials saw the size of their tumours reduced for at least six months. This new drug combines a combination of Herceptin and a particular type of chemotherapy.
Dr Jane Maher, Chief Medical Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support said: "These findings are definitely promising. What we need is more work quickly to see if the results are as good using large scale, randomised control trials."
Hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer
The Guardian's Dr Crippen asks 'Is hormone replacement therapy a health risk? A myth has grown up that nobody should stay on HRT for longer than five years. But the truth is more complex?'
This is the last On the pulse newsletter before Christmas. Nicky Waldman will be back from America in January in time for the next edition so I shall simply say a big thank you for all your support throughout the year and especially to those of you who have given so freely of your time. I hope you have a restful Christmas and I am looking forward to working with you again in the New Year.
Victoria Todd (v.todd@cancerkin.org.uk)
Funding announcement
Cancerkin has secured a grant of £10,000 from Capacity Builders, a Government sponsored organisation which provides support to third sector organisations i.e. charities. The grant is from the Modernisation Fund Grants Programme which focuses on organisations providing services to those worst hit by the recession. The funding is for Cancerkin's project to provide support to those affected by breast cancer in East London.
In the news…
CT scans may cause more cancers than previously thought
Scientists are claiming that CT scans can be triggering cancer in as many as one in 80 patients. This is far higher than the one in 1000 odds that are generally quoted. Although American findings where CT scans are more routinely offered, there is now the possibility that this new development will hold true for the UK. During 2008/9 in England there were a total of almost 36 million scans, x-rays and tests involving ultrasound, magnetic and radio waves, and radiation, of which 3.3 million were CT scans.
This story can be found in:
Daily Telegraph: CT scans may pose higher risk of cancer than first thought
The Independent: CT scans 'could raise the risk of cancer
Daily Express: Under the microscope
Alopecia
Hair specialists used to see women with hair loss problems twice a year, now they're getting them once a week. Yet, surprisingly little is known about female hair loss or alopecia. A recent survey revealed that as many as one in three women over the age of 25 will suffer from some sort of hair loss.
An article in the Telegraph takes a first person perspective on female hair loss. Highlighting that scientists don't know what triggers alopecia or how to stop it.
Nanosensors
The Sun has a story about a microchip that can detect cancer in 20 minutes by using nanosensors to seek out specific proteins in blood. These tests are meant to detect prostate and breast cancer biomarkers. The research was reported in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
New breast cancer drug offers last hope to women
Forty per cent of women with an aggressive and advanced form of breast cancer who were given the treatment in clinical trials saw the size of their tumours reduced for at least six months. This new drug combines a combination of Herceptin and a particular type of chemotherapy.
Dr Jane Maher, Chief Medical Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support said: "These findings are definitely promising. What we need is more work quickly to see if the results are as good using large scale, randomised control trials."
Hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer
The Guardian's Dr Crippen asks 'Is hormone replacement therapy a health risk? A myth has grown up that nobody should stay on HRT for longer than five years. But the truth is more complex?'
This is the last On the pulse newsletter before Christmas. Nicky Waldman will be back from America in January in time for the next edition so I shall simply say a big thank you for all your support throughout the year and especially to those of you who have given so freely of your time. I hope you have a restful Christmas and I am looking forward to working with you again in the New Year.
Victoria Todd (v.todd@cancerkin.org.uk)
Monday, 30 November 2009
On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer
Cancerkin’s news update….
CANCERKIN’S TOMBOLA EXTRAVAGANZA and Christmas card sale will be held at the Royal Free Hospital between 11am and 4pm outside the Atrium on the ground floor on 9th December; there are lots of fantastic prizes to be won. We look forward to seeing you there.
PATIENT SUPPORT GROUP – the next meeting will be held between 11am and 1pm on 8th December at the Cancerkin Centre. The speaker will be Norma Goldman (a pharmacist with a Masters degree in health promotion) author of a newsletter called Menopause Exchange. She will be talking about the menopause generally, with particular reference to issues relating to breast cancer. All are welcome!
In the news…
NICE REJECTS USE OF AVASTIN FOR BOWEL CANCER SUFFERERS…on the basis that they calculate that the annual cost is £36,000 p/a, whereas their maximum limit is £30,000 p/a. Campaigners for the drug estimate that 4-5,000 people with advanced forms of the disease could benefit from the drug which it is claimed can extend life for up to 2 years. Avastin is also used to treat some cases of secondary breast cancer, but according to the Daily Mail, its use in the NHS is in limbo until the bowel cancer issue is resolved. Read more about this here: Daily Mail
BENEFITS OF PETS - a report close to my own heart says that stroking a pet can help patients to halve the amount of painkillers they take. Julia Harvey who led the research project at Loyola University of Chicago said that pet therapy could play an important role in healing. She said: “Evidence suggests animal assisted therapy can have a positive effect on a patient’s emotional and physical well being.” A study for Warwick University found that having a pet dog or cat helped women beat the pain and fear of breast cancer and provided more support than a loving husband! Previous US research has shown that having pets is a great stress buster, with pet owners having lower heart rates and blood pressure. See the story here: Pets
INTERNAL BRA - The Daily Express reports on a new ‘internal’ bra that has been designed to improve sagging or misshapen breasts. It has been designed by Israeli plastic surgeon Professor Eyal Gur of Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Centre who claims that it has none of the drawbacks of breast implants and will look good for years. He said “It would be really beneficial to women who have had partial or full mastectomies. They often complain about their breast shape or position.” The ‘bra’ is fitted under the skin, using keyhole surgery and performed under a local anaesthetic. It is anticipated that this procedure will become available In Europe within 18 months.
TUMOUR CAUSING ENZYME – a breast cancer study published in the journal Cell has identified an enzyme (LOX) that is crucial for turning tissue in the breast into a tumour. Blocking LOX reduced the size and frequency of tumours in mice. Dr Jamie Erler from the Institute of Cancer Research said: “The enzyme triggers a clear physical change in breast tissue and if we could stop this happening, we expect it would slow the growth of any cancers that did develop and make them easier to eradicate”. Dr Alex Willett, head of policy at Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: “The next stage will be to test whether LOX has the same effect in humans…” Read the full story here: BBC news
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 25 November 2009
CANCERKIN’S TOMBOLA EXTRAVAGANZA and Christmas card sale will be held at the Royal Free Hospital between 11am and 4pm outside the Atrium on the ground floor on 9th December; there are lots of fantastic prizes to be won. We look forward to seeing you there.
PATIENT SUPPORT GROUP – the next meeting will be held between 11am and 1pm on 8th December at the Cancerkin Centre. The speaker will be Norma Goldman (a pharmacist with a Masters degree in health promotion) author of a newsletter called Menopause Exchange. She will be talking about the menopause generally, with particular reference to issues relating to breast cancer. All are welcome!
In the news…
NICE REJECTS USE OF AVASTIN FOR BOWEL CANCER SUFFERERS…on the basis that they calculate that the annual cost is £36,000 p/a, whereas their maximum limit is £30,000 p/a. Campaigners for the drug estimate that 4-5,000 people with advanced forms of the disease could benefit from the drug which it is claimed can extend life for up to 2 years. Avastin is also used to treat some cases of secondary breast cancer, but according to the Daily Mail, its use in the NHS is in limbo until the bowel cancer issue is resolved. Read more about this here: Daily Mail
BENEFITS OF PETS - a report close to my own heart says that stroking a pet can help patients to halve the amount of painkillers they take. Julia Harvey who led the research project at Loyola University of Chicago said that pet therapy could play an important role in healing. She said: “Evidence suggests animal assisted therapy can have a positive effect on a patient’s emotional and physical well being.” A study for Warwick University found that having a pet dog or cat helped women beat the pain and fear of breast cancer and provided more support than a loving husband! Previous US research has shown that having pets is a great stress buster, with pet owners having lower heart rates and blood pressure. See the story here: Pets
INTERNAL BRA - The Daily Express reports on a new ‘internal’ bra that has been designed to improve sagging or misshapen breasts. It has been designed by Israeli plastic surgeon Professor Eyal Gur of Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Centre who claims that it has none of the drawbacks of breast implants and will look good for years. He said “It would be really beneficial to women who have had partial or full mastectomies. They often complain about their breast shape or position.” The ‘bra’ is fitted under the skin, using keyhole surgery and performed under a local anaesthetic. It is anticipated that this procedure will become available In Europe within 18 months.
TUMOUR CAUSING ENZYME – a breast cancer study published in the journal Cell has identified an enzyme (LOX) that is crucial for turning tissue in the breast into a tumour. Blocking LOX reduced the size and frequency of tumours in mice. Dr Jamie Erler from the Institute of Cancer Research said: “The enzyme triggers a clear physical change in breast tissue and if we could stop this happening, we expect it would slow the growth of any cancers that did develop and make them easier to eradicate”. Dr Alex Willett, head of policy at Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: “The next stage will be to test whether LOX has the same effect in humans…” Read the full story here: BBC news
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 25 November 2009
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer
Cancerkin’s news update….
PATIENT SUPPORT GROUP – the next group meeting is on 24th November, 11am - 1pm and we will be demonstrating relaxation techniques.
NEW THERAPIES – dance therapy, hypnotherapy and soul therapy – please ask Jean Hafezi for more info.
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR – the Cancerkin Centre will be closed 24th December 2009– 1st January 2010 inclusive.
In the news…
10 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CANCER
World Cancer Research Fund has developed 10 recommendations for people to follow to reduce their risk of cancer. They say that nearly 80,000 cases of cancer in the UK annually could be prevented by following their suggestions, including over 19,000 cases of breast cancer. They emphasise that having a healthy lifestyle is no guarantee against cancer, but that the risk can be reduced considerably. You can read more about these recommendations in WCRF’s press release on their website and on the front page of the Daily Express (16th November 2009).
BREAST REGROWTH TRIALS PLANNED
This story was widely reported last week in the national press and refers to an exciting new technique that scientists hope will enable women who have had a mastectomy to re-grow their breast, using their own cells. There are two trials planned – one in the UK and one in Australia. If the trials are successful, it is thought that this technique, of injecting stem cell enhanced fat tissue (from the patient’s body) into a cavity under the skin, could revolutionise breast reconstruction, potentially producing a result that feels and looks more natural. Professor Kefah Mokbel of the London Breast Institute and St George’s Hospital said: “This is the next step in breast reconstruction surgery. It is potentially a very exciting development”. For more information on this story click here.
ANTI CANCER VACCINE FOR BREAST CANCER SUFFERERS
An article in the Daily Express reports on the start of trials for an anti cancer vaccine. The aim of the drug, called Stimuvax, is not to prevent cancer, but rather to stimulate the immune system to recognise the cancer cells and to destroy them. So far it has been used with some success on patients with lung cancer, but it is hoped that it can be developed to treat other cancers. Currently it is being tested on patients with advanced breast cancer. Dr Oliver Kisker, head of cancer treatment at Merck, which has designed the drug, said: “We are extremely excited about this vaccine. We have seen amazing effects in lung cancer patients and we believe it will work in the future with breast cancer patients.”
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 16 November 2009
PATIENT SUPPORT GROUP – the next group meeting is on 24th November, 11am - 1pm and we will be demonstrating relaxation techniques.
NEW THERAPIES – dance therapy, hypnotherapy and soul therapy – please ask Jean Hafezi for more info.
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR – the Cancerkin Centre will be closed 24th December 2009– 1st January 2010 inclusive.
In the news…
10 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CANCER
World Cancer Research Fund has developed 10 recommendations for people to follow to reduce their risk of cancer. They say that nearly 80,000 cases of cancer in the UK annually could be prevented by following their suggestions, including over 19,000 cases of breast cancer. They emphasise that having a healthy lifestyle is no guarantee against cancer, but that the risk can be reduced considerably. You can read more about these recommendations in WCRF’s press release on their website and on the front page of the Daily Express (16th November 2009).
BREAST REGROWTH TRIALS PLANNED
This story was widely reported last week in the national press and refers to an exciting new technique that scientists hope will enable women who have had a mastectomy to re-grow their breast, using their own cells. There are two trials planned – one in the UK and one in Australia. If the trials are successful, it is thought that this technique, of injecting stem cell enhanced fat tissue (from the patient’s body) into a cavity under the skin, could revolutionise breast reconstruction, potentially producing a result that feels and looks more natural. Professor Kefah Mokbel of the London Breast Institute and St George’s Hospital said: “This is the next step in breast reconstruction surgery. It is potentially a very exciting development”. For more information on this story click here.
ANTI CANCER VACCINE FOR BREAST CANCER SUFFERERS
An article in the Daily Express reports on the start of trials for an anti cancer vaccine. The aim of the drug, called Stimuvax, is not to prevent cancer, but rather to stimulate the immune system to recognise the cancer cells and to destroy them. So far it has been used with some success on patients with lung cancer, but it is hoped that it can be developed to treat other cancers. Currently it is being tested on patients with advanced breast cancer. Dr Oliver Kisker, head of cancer treatment at Merck, which has designed the drug, said: “We are extremely excited about this vaccine. We have seen amazing effects in lung cancer patients and we believe it will work in the future with breast cancer patients.”
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 16 November 2009
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
On the pulse...for people affected by breast cancer
Cancerkin’s news update….
Children’s Corner – as mentioned a few weeks ago, the Hampstead Women’s Club have generously created a fantastic area for children at the Cancerkin Centre. It is stacked with toys, games, crayons and books and is a lovely environment for Mum’s who are being treated in hospital to spend time with their children away from the ward. The area is now open – so please do visit. On the topic of children, Breast Cancer Care has produced a book called Mummy’s Lump that tries to help explain to young children what their Mum is going through. Copies of the book can be ordered from BCC.
Fundraising events & activities – as you will know, all of our services are provided free of charge. We receive no income from the NHS or other statutory bodies, which means we have to raise all the funds needed to keep Cancerkin running. We are constantly thinking of new ways to raise funds, but we would like to know what you think? Please tell us what sort of events you like going to, whether you would like to hold an event yourself or be involved in one we are running. WE WANT YOUR IDEAS NOW! You can email us at n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk
In the news…
New Lymph Node Test
The Times and the Daily Mail report on a relatively new procedure to check if cancer in the breast has spread to the lymph nodes. It is called a breast lymph node assay and it could make a real difference to the treatment time for breast cancer.
With this technique, patients having breast cancer surgery to remove a tumour can be tested immediately to see if the disease has spread to their lymph nodes. Usually, a small piece of tissue will be sent for testing, after the initial surgery, to see if the lymph nodes are affected; the tests can take 2-3 weeks. If the nodes are affected, the patient may require further surgery and thus a delay in starting chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The assay produces results within 30-45 minutes, meaning that if necessary, the surgeon can treat the nodes during the same initial operation, thereby avoiding the need for further surgery. In addition it is thought that this method of testing is much more accurate than sending a sample to a lab for analysis.
This technique is already being used at two hospitals in the UK and in 2010 it is due to be recommended for implementation across the NHS.
Dr Graham Layer, breast surgeon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, who started using the technique in 2007 said:
‘We can see cases where cancer has spread that we could not have spotted with conventional ultrasound or biopsy tests. For those women with a positive result, we are able to deal with that much more quickly than if we had waited for the results of routine pathology tests following a traditional breast cancer operation.’
For more information see:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6897567.ece
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1224258/30-minute-breast-cancer-test-save-lives-thousands.html
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 4 November 2009
Children’s Corner – as mentioned a few weeks ago, the Hampstead Women’s Club have generously created a fantastic area for children at the Cancerkin Centre. It is stacked with toys, games, crayons and books and is a lovely environment for Mum’s who are being treated in hospital to spend time with their children away from the ward. The area is now open – so please do visit. On the topic of children, Breast Cancer Care has produced a book called Mummy’s Lump that tries to help explain to young children what their Mum is going through. Copies of the book can be ordered from BCC.
Fundraising events & activities – as you will know, all of our services are provided free of charge. We receive no income from the NHS or other statutory bodies, which means we have to raise all the funds needed to keep Cancerkin running. We are constantly thinking of new ways to raise funds, but we would like to know what you think? Please tell us what sort of events you like going to, whether you would like to hold an event yourself or be involved in one we are running. WE WANT YOUR IDEAS NOW! You can email us at n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk
In the news…
New Lymph Node Test
The Times and the Daily Mail report on a relatively new procedure to check if cancer in the breast has spread to the lymph nodes. It is called a breast lymph node assay and it could make a real difference to the treatment time for breast cancer.
With this technique, patients having breast cancer surgery to remove a tumour can be tested immediately to see if the disease has spread to their lymph nodes. Usually, a small piece of tissue will be sent for testing, after the initial surgery, to see if the lymph nodes are affected; the tests can take 2-3 weeks. If the nodes are affected, the patient may require further surgery and thus a delay in starting chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The assay produces results within 30-45 minutes, meaning that if necessary, the surgeon can treat the nodes during the same initial operation, thereby avoiding the need for further surgery. In addition it is thought that this method of testing is much more accurate than sending a sample to a lab for analysis.
This technique is already being used at two hospitals in the UK and in 2010 it is due to be recommended for implementation across the NHS.
Dr Graham Layer, breast surgeon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, who started using the technique in 2007 said:
‘We can see cases where cancer has spread that we could not have spotted with conventional ultrasound or biopsy tests. For those women with a positive result, we are able to deal with that much more quickly than if we had waited for the results of routine pathology tests following a traditional breast cancer operation.’
For more information see:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6897567.ece
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1224258/30-minute-breast-cancer-test-save-lives-thousands.html
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 4 November 2009
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
On the pulse - for people affected by breast cancer
Cancerkin’s news update….
On 2nd November, we are starting Hypnotherapy treatments at the Cancerkin Centre. We have also started Spiritual Healing sessions and appointments are available; however, if you would like to know more about it, Kathryn Scorza is holding a group meeting on 17th November, where people can have a 15 minute ‘taster’ session. To book an appointment or for more information on these or any other treatments, please contact Jean Hafezi (020 7830 2323) at the Cancerkin Centre.
In the news…
NICE to refuse use of drug for women with advanced breast cancer
I reported in March 2009 that GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturers of the drug Lapatinib (also known as Tyverb), were appealing the decision by NICE[1] to reject funding for use of the drug by the NHS, on the basis that they considered it was not a cost effective use of resources. Lapatinib is commonly used to treat a particular type of advanced breast cancer which has returned, despite use of standard treatments. It is not a cure, but can delay the progression of the cancer. It is thought that about 2000 women could be eligible for the drug.
The appeal has now been heard, but it seems that it will be turned down again, essentially for the same reasons as last time - cost. NICE have reached this decision despite the fact that GSK had offered to fund the first 12 weeks of treatment with the drug and despite their own new rules whereby they were going to be more flexible in their approach to end of life cancer drugs.
This story was carried in many newspapers, including The Guardian at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/21/women-denied-cancer-drug
The Guardian also quotes Alison Jones, member of Cancerkin’s Medical Advisory Panel and Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Free Hospital as saying:
"This is a useful drug for patients with breast cancer. It is not the cure. This is second-line disease and you don't expect stunning results," she said. "Anywhere else in Europe you can have it. I think it should be here."
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
In a regular column on health issues in the Daily Express, Dr Rosemary Leonard gives some information on triple negative breast cancer, explaining what it is and how it can be treated. See the article at www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/view/135147 and more detailed information on this type of breast cancer, which affects approximately 15% of those diagnosed with the disease, can be found at:
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/about-cancer/cancer-questions/triple-negative-breast-cancer
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 26 October 2009
[1] The National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence – drugs watchdog for England & Wales
On 2nd November, we are starting Hypnotherapy treatments at the Cancerkin Centre. We have also started Spiritual Healing sessions and appointments are available; however, if you would like to know more about it, Kathryn Scorza is holding a group meeting on 17th November, where people can have a 15 minute ‘taster’ session. To book an appointment or for more information on these or any other treatments, please contact Jean Hafezi (020 7830 2323) at the Cancerkin Centre.
In the news…
NICE to refuse use of drug for women with advanced breast cancer
I reported in March 2009 that GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturers of the drug Lapatinib (also known as Tyverb), were appealing the decision by NICE[1] to reject funding for use of the drug by the NHS, on the basis that they considered it was not a cost effective use of resources. Lapatinib is commonly used to treat a particular type of advanced breast cancer which has returned, despite use of standard treatments. It is not a cure, but can delay the progression of the cancer. It is thought that about 2000 women could be eligible for the drug.
The appeal has now been heard, but it seems that it will be turned down again, essentially for the same reasons as last time - cost. NICE have reached this decision despite the fact that GSK had offered to fund the first 12 weeks of treatment with the drug and despite their own new rules whereby they were going to be more flexible in their approach to end of life cancer drugs.
This story was carried in many newspapers, including The Guardian at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/21/women-denied-cancer-drug
The Guardian also quotes Alison Jones, member of Cancerkin’s Medical Advisory Panel and Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Free Hospital as saying:
"This is a useful drug for patients with breast cancer. It is not the cure. This is second-line disease and you don't expect stunning results," she said. "Anywhere else in Europe you can have it. I think it should be here."
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
In a regular column on health issues in the Daily Express, Dr Rosemary Leonard gives some information on triple negative breast cancer, explaining what it is and how it can be treated. See the article at www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/view/135147 and more detailed information on this type of breast cancer, which affects approximately 15% of those diagnosed with the disease, can be found at:
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/about-cancer/cancer-questions/triple-negative-breast-cancer
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk) 26 October 2009
[1] The National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence – drugs watchdog for England & Wales
Monday, 26 October 2009
on the pulse - for people affected by breast cancer
Cancerkin’s news Update….
Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
As one of our many initiatives during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cancerkin had a stand in the Royal Free promoting the work that we do and the various treatments that we offer patients affected by breast cancer (and their families). We were delighted to welcome so many visitors to the stand, who were treated to delicious fairy cakes! We sold a variety of our goodies, including tee shirts, cosmetics, books and key rings. We raised a massive £1,000 for Cancerkin! So a big thank you to all those who gave so generously and to our volunteers who (wo)manned the stand during the course of the day.
Hampstead Women’s Club:
We are delighted to report on a new collaboration with the Hampstead Women’s Club – a multi national social organisation for women living in the London area, who provide a sense of community through social, educational and charitable activities. They have kindly given their time and resources to creating a new Children’s Corner at the Cancerkin Centre. This will provide a welcoming facility for Mums receiving care at the hospital to be with their children in a comfortable child friendly environment, away from the ward. Children’s Corner will be open soon…watch this space!
In the news…
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements and Cancer Risk:
According to an expert at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), high doses of vitamin and mineral supplements can do more harm than good in terms of cancer risk and the message from WCRF and Cancer Research UK is to try and get all the minerals and vitamins you need from a healthy, balanced diet. Yinka Ebo, health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "Many large studies have looked at the effects of vitamin supplements on cancer risk and most have found that these supplements have no effect. But some studies have found that, far from improving your health, high doses can be harmful and even increase the risk of cancer."The best way to get your full range of vitamins and minerals and help protect against cancer is to eat a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables."
For more on this article, follow this link to the Cancer Research website: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/newsarchive/2009/october/19414129
Relationships and Illness:
The Times (15th October 2009) reported on the effect that serious illness can have on a relationship and the different ways in which men and women respond to this. http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/relationships/article6875081.ece
The article looks at various studies that have been carried out, with particular reference to the effect of a cancer diagnosis and there are also several stories by cancer sufferers, relating their own experiences.
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk)
19th October 2009
Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
As one of our many initiatives during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cancerkin had a stand in the Royal Free promoting the work that we do and the various treatments that we offer patients affected by breast cancer (and their families). We were delighted to welcome so many visitors to the stand, who were treated to delicious fairy cakes! We sold a variety of our goodies, including tee shirts, cosmetics, books and key rings. We raised a massive £1,000 for Cancerkin! So a big thank you to all those who gave so generously and to our volunteers who (wo)manned the stand during the course of the day.
Hampstead Women’s Club:
We are delighted to report on a new collaboration with the Hampstead Women’s Club – a multi national social organisation for women living in the London area, who provide a sense of community through social, educational and charitable activities. They have kindly given their time and resources to creating a new Children’s Corner at the Cancerkin Centre. This will provide a welcoming facility for Mums receiving care at the hospital to be with their children in a comfortable child friendly environment, away from the ward. Children’s Corner will be open soon…watch this space!
In the news…
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements and Cancer Risk:
According to an expert at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), high doses of vitamin and mineral supplements can do more harm than good in terms of cancer risk and the message from WCRF and Cancer Research UK is to try and get all the minerals and vitamins you need from a healthy, balanced diet. Yinka Ebo, health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "Many large studies have looked at the effects of vitamin supplements on cancer risk and most have found that these supplements have no effect. But some studies have found that, far from improving your health, high doses can be harmful and even increase the risk of cancer."The best way to get your full range of vitamins and minerals and help protect against cancer is to eat a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables."
For more on this article, follow this link to the Cancer Research website: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/newsarchive/2009/october/19414129
Relationships and Illness:
The Times (15th October 2009) reported on the effect that serious illness can have on a relationship and the different ways in which men and women respond to this. http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/relationships/article6875081.ece
The article looks at various studies that have been carried out, with particular reference to the effect of a cancer diagnosis and there are also several stories by cancer sufferers, relating their own experiences.
Nicky Waldman (n.waldman@cancerkin.org.uk)
19th October 2009
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