On the pulse

Cancerkin's News Update.....

Hyde Park Walk 2011

Thank you to everyone who came along on Sunday to take part in the Hyde Park Walk! We had a fantastic turnout of walkers, joggers and runners on our big day out in the Park. Crowds of families, friends, and even a troupe of ballerinas gathered early on Sunday morning at the Hyde Park Bandstand before setting off round the Serpentine to show their support for women affected by breast cancer. We were lucky enough to escape the rain, with sunny spells and a cool breeze making for perfect walking conditions, and all thoroughly enjoyed the day!

To see photos from the walk, head to our Flickr or Facebook pages now! Please tag your friends and ‘like’ the photos and the Cancerkin page while you’re there. We’d love you to share your pictures and your experiences of the day with us, so please contact me at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk – the best stories and photos will be posted online!

Our wonderful walkers are now busy collecting their sponsorship money – thank you to those who have already sent theirs in! We have already raised almost £17,000 and this total is climbing every day. Please note that the deadline for returning monies is Monday 15th August. On this day we will count up the grand total and announce our top three fundraisers. Each winner will be awarded with luxury products kindly donated by Floris. Please remember to make all cheques payable to Cancerkin and avoid sending cash in the post. Please contact l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk if you have any queries about sponsorship.

June lectures at Cancerkin

Next Tuesday, 28th June from 11am – 1pm, we are pleased to welcome Dr Anmol Malhotra MB BS BSc(Hons) MRCP FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lead at the Royal Free Hospital who will give a lecture on recent developments in breast imaging at our second June lecture. This special event at the Cancerkin Centre is open to all patients and supporters and we would love to see you there. Spaces are limited so please contact Una on 0207 830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk if you are interested in attending.

Cancerkin’s latest addition…

We are thrilled to welcome our new finance officer Intern, Krupi Mehta, to the Cancerkin Team. Krupi has just graduated from the University of Westminster with a first class honours degree in Accounting and Business Management and she will now be assisting with our finances, accounts and IT over the next few months. Congratulations on your degree and welcome to Cancerkin, Krupi!

Therapies update…

Please note that pilates classes will be taking a break over the summer. The last session before the break will be on Thursday 7th July 2011 at 1.30pm, and classes will recommence on Thursday 8th September 2011 at 1.30pm.

In the News.....

Can a low carb diet prevent or slow cancer?

Many different theories exist about how our diets and the food we eat can affect our risk of developing cancer or can impact upon the growth of cancerous tumours. The latest research to emerge on the topic was published last week in the journal Cancer Research and suggests that a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet could help to slow the growth of tumours and even prevent cancer from developing.

Scientists in Canada reached this conclusion firstly by looking at the effects of two different diets on a group of mice that had cancer. One group of mice was given a typical Western diet, composed of 55 per cent carbohydrate, 23 percent protein and 22 percent fat. Another was given a low-carb, high-protein diet made up of 15 percent carbohydrate, 58 percent protein and 26 percent fat. The growth of tumours was found to be slower in the mice on the low-carb diet than those on the Western one. Researchers then repeated the same experiment on mice who were genetically predisposed to breast cancer. Of these mice, almost 50 percent of those on the Western diet developed breast cancer within their first year of life and only one mouse in this group reached the full life span of two years. None of the mice on the low-carb diet developed breast cancer as quickly and more that 50 percent reached or exceeded normal life expectancy. Lead researcher, Dr Gerald Krystal suggested that the reason behind the study’s results was related to the fuel cancer cell required for growth. Tumour cells need more glucose than healthy cells to grow and a low-carbohydrate diet may help to deprive tumour cells of both glucose and insulin, slowing their development. He also speculated that a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet may boost the immune system's ability to kill cancer cells.

As always, such claims must be approached with caution. In response to the study, Cancer Research UK was quick to highlight that the research is still in its infancy. Jessica Harris, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "This study was done in mice, so it doesn't tell us whether such a diet would have a similar effect in humans. There is a substantial amount of evidence that eating a healthy, balanced diet that's high in fibre, fruit and vegetables and low in red and processed meat, saturated fat and salt could reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer, but it's far too soon to add this dietary pattern to the list."

To read more from CRUK, please click here.

Earlier menarche means increased risk of breast cancer…

Through its Breakthrough Generations Study, which is currently following over 110,000 women living in the UK over a number of decades, breast cancer research charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer has found that teenage girls, particularly those from a lower socio-economic background, are starting their periods earlier. As reported in On the pulse last October, this is a worrying trend, as much research has shown that early menarche is linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Data collected in the study shows that, generally, in girls born in the late 1980s and 1990s, the age at which they have their first period has dropped. In girls born before this time, the average age of menarche had remained the same for several decades. In girls born at the start of the 20th century, the average age was 13.5 years, then 12.6 years for those born in the 1940s. This age remained the same until it dropped again to 12.3 years for girls born in the 1980s. The drop in age has been found to be most pronounced in those from a poorer background. The age at which a girl’s periods start is linked to their body weight. In a society struggling with childhood obesity, the drop in age may well be related to increasing numbers of overweight children, particularly in lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Study author Danielle Morris, from The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in Sutton, Surrey, said: “These results suggest that girls, particularly from poorer backgrounds, are starting their periods younger. While we don’t know all the reasons behind this, changes in diet may have played a part. This decrease is important because the age at which a girl starts her periods can influence her chances of developing breast cancer later in life.” Professor Anthony Swerdlow, from the ICR and co-leader of the Breakthrough Generations Study, added: “Incidence of breast cancer has risen progressively over a long time in the UK. We think these changes have come about through a combination of factors each of which individually makes a small difference. Understanding how these factors influence a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer should allow us to develop strategies for preventing the disease in the future.”

To read more from Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s website, please click here.

Laura Smith

24th June 2011

Cancerkin's News Update.....

Hyde Park Walk this Sunday!

After months of planning and preparation, Cancerkin’s big walk around Hyde Park is finally here! We have been taking last minute entries all week and are expecting a turn out of over 200 walkers. The weather forecast is set for sunshine (fingers crossed no rain!) and the Cancerkin team is looking forward to seeing you all there.

If you have not yet registered but still want to get involved, do not worry, you can register on the day. Just come along to the Hyde Park Bandstand from 9am to sign up and receive you free Cancerkin T-shirt. The walk will then start at 10.30am. Drinks from Sainsbury’s and Ocean Spray will be provided and marshals will be around the course to answer any questions. Please do be sure to bring along sun-cream, hats and anything else you may need and you are welcome to bring a picnic for afterwards. We are able to store this for you but please note there are no refrigeration services available.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at anytime on

l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.

June lectures at Cancerkin

On Tuesday 28th June from 11am – 1pm Dr Anmol Malhotra MB BS BSc(Hons) MRCP FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lead at the Royal Free Hospital will give a lecture about recent developments in breast imaging here at the Cancerkin centre. He will then be taking questions from the audience. This special event is open to all patients and supporters.

If you would like to attend the lecture, please contact Una on 0207 830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.

Therapies update…

We would like to thank our Drama Therapist Christine Fox for her efforts in running such a fantastic series of Drama workshops here at Cancerkin, with all those who took part saying how much they enjoyed the sessions. Classes have now finished but we hope to see Christine back at Cancerkin again in the near future.

We would also like to send our congratulations to Alexander Technique Therapist Kate Fun, who gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Benjamin, on Saturday. We wish Kate and Benjamin all the best!

In the News.....

As has been reported in On the pulse in recent months, much research has been published about breast cancer surgery and age. Research has found that the older a patient is, the less likely they are to have surgery, and further data presented this week at the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) conference supports these findings and has found that differences in surgery rates by age cannot be fully attributed to age-related ill health caused by other diseases.

A team of researchers led by Dr Katrina Lavelle at the University of Manchester examined the records of over 23,000 women with breast cancer, to discover the extent to which women over the age of 70 were less likely to receive surgery was due to other illnesses. The women examined were all diagnosed with the disease between 1997 and 2005 and lived in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East of England. Results showed that overall rates of surgery dropped off with age and that women who did have other illnesses were less likely to have surgery. However, even once ill health related to other diseases had been taken into account, researchers found that the likelihood of surgery still decreased with age. More than 85 per cent of women aged 65 to 70 received surgery as part of their treatment. This figure fell to 70 per cent in those over 70, and to only 50 per cent in those over 80. Older patients were also less likely to have surgery if they were from a deprived area.

Dr Katrina Lavelle said of the findings: “Previous research has shown that older women are less likely to have surgery for breast cancer compared with younger patients. Surgery to remove breast tumours is one of the most effective ways to treat this cancer so it’s important to get a better understanding of what lies behind these differences. This research suggests that the presence of other illnesses, which we know increases with age, does not fully explain the difference in treatment between older and younger patients. The good news is that over the time period we looked at, the numbers of women over 65 having surgery did rise from 68 per cent to 75 per cent.

Our ongoing research, funded by the Breast Cancer Campaign and the National Institute for Health Research, is investigating the extent to which the lack of surgery amongst older women is due to things like overall frailty or patient choice. We are also developing statistical techniques to help to decide which treatment is likely to be the most appropriate based on patient choice, health and acceptable risk, rather than age”

To read more, please click here.

Laura Smith

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news…


Hyde Park Walk update...

The big walk round Hyde Park is now just over a week away and the Cancerkin Team is looking forward to seeing you all there! We are still taking last minute entries for the walk on Sunday 19th June so if you have not yet registered, there is still time to do so – just send in your registration form as soon as you can. To download an entry form, please visit our website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at anytime on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.


June lectures at Cancerkin

In June, Cancerkin is pleased to be holding two special events open to all patients and supporters.

On Tuesday 28th June from 11am – 1pm Dr Anmol Malhotra MB BS BSc(Hons) MRCP FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lead at the Royal Free Hospital will give a lecture about recent developments in breast imaging and will take questions from the audience. If you would like to attend, please contact Una on 0207 830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.

On Monday 6 June, Mr Mohammed Keshtgar MBBS BSc FRCSI FRCSC(Gen) PhD, Consultant Surgical Oncologist at the Royal Free and Whittington Hospitals gave a fascinating lecture at the Cancerkin Centre on the topic of ‘Breast cancer management: what the future holds’. Mr Keshtgar explained new research and developments currently being made in the field of breast cancer management before taking a lively question and answer session. We would like to thank him for sharing his time and expertise with us.


Integrated Cancer System Event next week

There will be an Integrated Cancer System event organised by UCL Partners taking place on 14th June from 5.30-7.30pm in the Sheila Sherlock Centre at the Royal Free. Integrated Cancer Systems are replacing the provider components of cancer networks and Tuesday’s event will explain what is happening to them, as well as acting as a public consultation and a chance for attendees to share their views. The event is open to patients and the public. For information and details about how to register, please click here.


Art workshop at Cancerkin

Mary-Anne Paterson will be holding an art therapy workshop this Tuesday, 14th June, 11am to 4pm at the Cancerkin centre. The session is specifically for those who have been to at least one art therapy class before and there will be a charge of £5 per person to cover the costs of materials. If you are interested in attending, please call Una on 0207 830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.


In the news…

Report finds lower breast cancer survival rates amongst poorer women

New research published this week has revealed that poorer women who come from more deprived areas are less likely to survive breast cancer than their more affluent counterparts, due to late diagnosis of the disease. The ‘All Breast Cancer Report’, conducted by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) is the first in-depth analysis in the UK that examines how treatment and the route of diagnosis – either via breast screening or symptoms of breast cancer being presented to a GP – affect the likelihood of surviving the disease in women from different socio-economic backgrounds.

The comprehensive analysis of breast cancer patients examined information on how long women survived and how they were diagnosed, and data regarding their socio-economic background. Within this, women were split into five groups of differing levels of poverty, ranging from the most affluent to the most deprived. There was little difference found between the groups amongst those diagnosed with breast cancer through the national breast cancer screening programmes across the UK. Ninety nine percent of women in the most affluent group survived the disease for at least 5 years compared with 94 percent of those in the most deprived group that were diagnosed in this way. However, a significant difference was found between the groups in patients whose route of diagnosis was via symptoms presented to a doctor, for example in women who found they had a lump and consequently visited a GP. 83 percent of the most affluent group survived for at least five years, in comparison with 68 percent of in the most deprived group of women diagnosed in this way – a difference of 15 percent.

The huge disparity in survival is ascribed to late diagnosis. Through missed screenings, less awareness of breast cancer symptoms or hesitance about seeing a doctor, poorer women have been found to be less likely to survive because they are diagnosed at a later stage when breast cancer is more advanced. Treatment is as a result more aggressive and even the best treatments available are less likely to be successful.

Gill Lawrence, director of the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit and report author, said of its results: “These figures show that even though a greater number of affluent women develop breast cancer every year, poorer women are more likely to die from the disease. Not going for screening and delays in going to the doctor mean that less affluent women are being diagnosed with later stage cancers which need more invasive surgery and are far less likely to be treated with breast conserving surgery. But, if these women attend screening, are breast aware and go to their doctor as soon as they notice anything unusual for them such as a lump or changes to the nipple like a rash or dimpling there’s no reason why poorer women shouldn’t have the same chance of survival as more affluent women.”

To read the NCIN press release click here, or to read the Cancer Research UK science blog, click here. Cancerkin’s East London breast cancer awareness project is very much focused on this disparity of outcomes: the one year breast cancer mortality rate in East London is significantly higher than in more wealthy parts of London.

Laura Smith

10^th June 2011

On the pulse


Cancerkin’s news…


Hyde Park Walk update...

Cancerkin’s walk around Hyde Park Sunday 19th June is now just weeks away! We would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous sponsors who are supporting the event: GAM, an investment management firm who have kindly funded the printing of our T-shirts, Sainsburys who will be providing bottled water for our thirsty walkers, Ocean Spray who have donated cranberry juice and packets of cranberries to keep up energy levels and Floris who are supplying fabulous prizes for the three walkers who raise the most. Thank you!

We are still taking entries for the Walk so if you have not yet registered for the walk, there is still time to do so – just send in your registration form as soon as you can. To download an entry form, please visit our website, or you can request for a form to be sent to you in the post.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at anytime on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.


Internship opportunity at Cancerkin...

Are you or do you know of a bright, enthusiastic graduate who would be interested in working at Cancerkin? We are looking for such a candidate to begin an Accounts, IT and Office Manager internship starting in June. To find out more please visit the graduate talent pool website. To apply, please send a CV and covering letter, clearly stating why you want this internship and what you feel you can bring to the role, to v.todd@cancerkin.org.uk.


June lectures at Cancerkin

In June, Cancerkin is please to be holding two special events open to all patients and supporters.

On Monday 6th June from 3pm - 5pm, Mr Mohammed Keshtgar MBBS BSc FRCSI FRCSC(Gen) PhD, Consultant Surgical Oncologist at the Royal Free and Whittington Hospitals will be giving a lecture entitled ‘Breast cancer management: what the future holds’ here at the Cancerkin Centre. The lecture will be followed by a question and answer session.

Then on Tuesday 28th June from 11am – 1pm, Dr Anmol Malhotra MB BS BSc(Hons) MRCP FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lead at the Royal Free Hospital, will be talking about recent developments in breast imaging, before taking questions from the audience.

If you would like to attend either of these lectures or have any questions please contact Una on 0207 830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.


In the news…

Breakthrough in triple negative research

Around one in six women with breast cancer in the UK are affected by triple negative breast cancer – that amounts to around 8,000 patients a year. This kind of breast cancer tends to be more aggressive and difficult to treat, as the cancers do not have hormone receptors of HER2 receptors. The lack of receptors means that tumours do not respond to targeted therapies such as Herceptin or hormone therapies like tamoxifen and treatment options for this group of patients are currently limited.

In an exciting new study published this week in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, US researchers have identified overactive genes in triple negative breast cancers which could provide a new drug target for such tumours. Scientists at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the US have succeeded in identifying a pool of 15 genes that are required by triple negative breast cancer cells to grow. Although only in the early stages of their research, scientists think that the discovery of the genes could potentially lead to the development of the first targeted treatment for triple negative breast cancer.

Dr Caitlin Palframan, Policy Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said of the study: “This research is very exciting as new treatments for triple negative breast cancer are urgently needed. There are limited treatment options available for this group of patients so a targeted treatment would be a real breakthrough. However, this is early stage research in mice and we look forward to seeing if this approach will prove effective in the upcoming clinical trials.”

To read an article in The Telegraph, click here, or to read more from Breakthrough Breast Cancer, click here.


New drug for advanced breast cancer

A new drug called Eribulin (or Havalen by its brand name) has now been launched in the UK after it was approved for use last month. The chemotherapy drug is designed to treat patients with advanced breast cancer and may be given to patients who have been given other treatments without success or who are unable to take two common types of chemotherapy drugs, amthrocycline and taxane.

Eribulin is a chemotherapy drug that is derived from chemicals found in sea sponges. The drug functions by binding itself to microtubules, structures that allow cell division. By binding the microtubules, the drug leaves cancer cells unable to divide and forces them to self-destruct. Other chemotherapy drugs also do this but but the way in which Eribulin works is currently unique.

Research into the drug suggests that Eribulin may help to extend the lives of breast cancer patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of their bodies. The recent phase III ‘EMBRACE’ trial into the drug examined 762 patients with metastatic breast cancer and found that women who were given Eribulin lived for a median of 13.1 months compared to women who were given a standard treatment recommended by their doctor who lived for a median of 10.6 months.

Dr Andrew Wardley, consultant medical oncologist and co-chair of the Breast Group at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, said: "Eribulin addresses an urgent need for new treatment options for women with advanced breast cancer who have previously received multiple treatments." Julia Frater, senior information nurse at Cancer Research UK, said: "It's really good to hear new treatments for breast cancer are being licensed and we look forward to seeing NICE's final appraisal decision. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the UK so it's vital that we continue to look for different ways to treat the disease."
To read a Cancer Research UK press release, please click here.

Laura Smith 3rd June 2011

On the pulse


Cancerkin’s news…


Hyde Park Walk update...

We are still taking entries for the Hyde Park Walk on Sunday 19th June so if you have not yet registered for the walk, there is still time to do so – just send in your registration form as soon as you can. To download an entry form, please visit our website, or you can request for a form to be sent to you in the post.

If you have already registered and you are thinking about setting up an online Justgiving page, now is the time to do so! Justgiving is a quick and easy way to collect sponsorship and takes just a few moments to set up. Click here to go to their website and here to read some tips on how to make the most of your page.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at anytime on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.



News from East London...

This week eight wonderful volunteers from East London began their training to become ‘Experienced Patients’. Cancerkin’s existing team of Experienced Patients are trained volunteers who have been through breast cancer themselves and now offer one-to-one support to patients and their families. Cancerkin has been offering this hand-holding service at the Royal Free since the charity was founded in 1987 and we are now making exciting progress in establishing a similar network in East London. All those who attended on Tuesday at St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney found the session very interesting and enjoyable. We wish them all the best of luck as they progress in their training.

Today we returned to St Joseph’s as part of Cancerkin’s continuing programme of complementary therapy sessions in the area. Over 30 women attended, benefiting from a range of Cancerkin’s individual and group therapies. On 13 May, we held a further session at new East London venue the Bromley by Bow centre. Nearly 20 women participated in the session and breast awareness talks were held throughout the day for those visiting the centre. Feedback continues to be overwhelmingly positive from sessions at both venues. We would like to thank the wonderful staff at both the Bromley by Bow Centre and St Joseph’s Hospice for their continued support and help in making the sessions a success.


Waitrose’s community matters scheme...

We are pleased to announce that Cancerkin has been selected as one of three charities to take part in the Waitrose ‘Community Matters’ giving initiative at their John Barnes Store on Finchley Road throughout June. Using tokens provided at the till, customers decide how much of a £1,000 total is given to three different charities which have been nominated by their own customers. If you happen to be in the store during June, please put your token in the Cancerkin box!


In the news…


New research into drug resistance in breast cancer…

Tamoxifen is one of the most widely prescribed drugs used to treat women whose breast tumours require the hormone oestrogen to grow. Drugs like Tamoxifen work by blocking oestrogen, but over time cancers can become resistant to this kind of treatment. Research published this week in the Nature Medicine journal had identified a protein found in breast cancer cells that may play a part in the development of this drug resistance. Although research is in its early stage, the protein could provide an important target for the development of new therapies.

A team of scientists at the Imperial College London undertook a series of tests into the protein known as LMTK3. They found that LMTK3 can help to ‘switch on’ response to oestrogen in tamoxifen resistant cells, making the drug less effective. By blocking LMTK3, this response was ‘switched off’, making cells more sensitive to the treatment. Using an experimental genetic technique on mice carrying tamoxifen-resistant breast tumours, researchers were able to block LMTK3 and successfully shrink the tumours. The team also examined different levels of LMTK3 found in samples of breast cancer tissue. They found that women with higher levels of LMTK3 in their cancer cells generally had a shorter life expectancy and were less likely to benefit from hormone therapy. They also found links between faults in the gene for the protein and how long an individual survived.

Senior author Professor Justin Stebbing, from Imperial College London's Department of Surgery and Cancer, said of the research: "Anti-oestrogen drugs have been very successful at allowing women with breast cancer to live longer, but resistance to these drugs is a common problem. Our results suggest that the action of LMTK3 on the oestrogen receptor has a crucial role in the development of drug resistance. We're now looking for drugs that can block the effect of LMTK3, which we could hopefully give to patients to prevent them from becoming resistant to hormone therapy. It will probably take at least five to ten years to develop new treatments that are safe to be used in humans."

To read the article in full, please click here.


Laura Smith 28th May 2011
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news…

Still time to bid in our luxury villa auction...

There are just a few days left to bid in our eBay auction for a fabulous week long holiday in a Portuguese villa! The use of the villa has been generously donated by one of our supporters and all proceeds from the auction will go to Cancerkin.

Located near Porto in the North of Portugal, the stunning villa sleeps up to 10 and has its own swimming pool, outdoor seating and dining area and lots of outdoor space. If you have not yet booked your family summer holiday, this is a perfect opportunity to secure a stay in a fabulous location and to support Cancerkin at the same time. If you are not bidding yourself, please help us spread the word and tell everyone you know about the auction!

Bids will be taken until 8pm on Sunday 22nd May 2011. Click here to find out more and to place your bid. Good luck!

...and still time to register for the Hyde Park Walk!

We are still taking entries for the Hyde Park Walk on Sunday 19th June. If you have not yet registered for the walk, there is still plenty of time to do so – we will be taking entries right up to the day. To download an entry form, please visit our website

This week’s fundraising tip for our wonderful walkers is to encourage others to join the walk too! Collecting sponsorship and walking as a group is fantastic fun and can make fundraising much easier. We already have quite a few teams signed up so see if you can get your friends, family and colleagues involved too.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at anytime on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.

In the News.....

Yoga can help women with breast cancer…

Cancerkin has been offering yoga classes to its patients for many years and it is one of our most popular activities. We have even started up a new class in Kundalini Yoga, a different variety of the practice. For those interested in the potential impact of yoga, fascinating new research published this week by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in the US has shown that women with breast cancer who are undergoing radiotherapy can benefit from regular yoga sessions. Results indicate that while patients doing only simple stretching exercises experience improved fatigue, those who take part in yoga classes involving yogic breathing, postures, meditation and relaxation techniques experience improved physical functioning, better general health and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

For the study, 163 women with breast cancer at stages 0 to 3 and of an average age of 52 were randomly placed into three groups: group one participated in sessions of yoga; group two undertook simple stretches; group three were given no instruction in yoga or stretching. Groups one and two participated in 3 one hour sessions of yoga or stretching throughout the six weeks of their radiotherapy. At the beginning and end of treatment, and one, three and six months after treatment, saliva samples and electrocardiogram tests were taken from all participants.

The study found that after completing their treatment, both the yoga and stretching groups reported reduced fatigue. However, women in the yoga group reported the greatest benefits to physical functioning and general health at their one, three and six month post treatments checks. This group was also most likely to perceive positive life changes from their cancer experience. Most interestingly, this group reported the steepest decline in cortisol levels across the day, suggesting that yoga helps to regulate the stress hormone. This is of particular significance as higher levels of the hormone have been linked with worse outcomes in breast cancer.

Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., professor and director of the Integrative Medicine Programme at MD Anderson said of the study: “the combination of mind and body practices that are part of yoga clearly have tremendous potential to help patients manage the psychosocial and physical distress associated with treatment and life after cancer, beyond the benefits of simple stretching. The transition from active therapy back to everyday life can be very stressful as patients no longer receive the same level of medical care and attention. Teaching patients a mind-body technique like yoga as a coping skill can make the transition less difficult.”

To read the MD Anderson Cancer Centre press release in full, please click here.. Please note that Cancerkin’s yoga classes take place every week at 1pm on Wednesday and 2.45pm on Friday.

Can coffee really help prevent breast cancer?

Results from a new study into the relationship between coffee consumption and breast cancer, published last week in BioMed Centrals online Breast Cancer Research journal, suggest that the beverage can help protect against the risk of developing the disease. The Karolinska Institute in Sweden examined the coffee drinking habits of just under 6,000 women and results suggest that more that five cups a day can cut a woman’s risk of breast cancer. However, cancer experts say this is not proof enough and that the findings need confirmation.

The ‘case-control’ study compared results acquired from 2,800 women with breast cancer, the ‘case’ group, with those taken from 3,100 who did not, the ‘control’ group. They were asked to remember their coffee drinking habits and lifestyle factors in the past. In comparing the groups, researchers found that those who drank 5 cups of coffee a day were 20 percent less likely to have the disease than those who did not. When focussing on a specific type of breast cancer, ER-negative breast cancer, the team found that those drinking their five a day of coffee were 57 percent less likely to have breast cancer than those who did not.

Experts have been quick to point out that the study’s results are not conclusive. As Cancer Research UK’s science blog highlights, this kind of study can be flawed. When asked about their habits from years ago, people may remember incorrectly. Important factors such as age, alcohol consumption and exercise for example must also be taken consideration and may explain difference in risk between those who drank coffee and those who did not.

The blog also stresses that in a different case-control study conducted in Germany and examining 3464 women with breast cancer and 6657 without, no significant correlation was found between coffee and breast cancer, suggesting the Swedish study’s results were ‘a fluke’. Past research into the drink has also produced varying results, with one study suggesting women with the most caffeine in their diets actually have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Yinka Ebo of Cancer Research UK said: "This study does not provide firm evidence that drinking lots of coffee can help reduce the risk of breast cancer as it relied on people with cancer remembering how much coffee they drank years ago. Previous research on coffee consumption and breast cancer risk has produced mixed results, and the authors of this new study acknowledge that further work will be needed to confirm the findings."

To read a BBC news report on the subject, please click here.. To read CRUK’s science blog in full, click here.

Laura Smith

______________________________

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news…

Holiday villa auction now live on eBay!

Yesterday, we launched our second ever eBay auction in which we are selling off a fabulous week long holiday in a Portuguese villa. The use of the villa has been generously donated by one of our supporters and all proceeds from the auction will go to Cancerkin.

Located near Porto in the North of Portugal, the stunning villa sleeps up to 10 and has its own swimming pool, outdoor seating and dining area and lots of outdoor space. If you have not yet booked your family summer holiday, this is a perfect opportunity to secure a stay in a fabulous location and to support Cancerkin at the same time. If you are not bidding yourself, please help us spread the word and tell everyone you know about the auction!

Bids will be taken until 8pm on Sunday 22nd May 2011. Click here to find out more and to place your bid. Good luck!

Important Hyde Park Walk news...

Due to the high levels of interest shown in our biggest event of the year, we have extended the closing date for entries for the Hyde Park Walk on 19th June. If you have not yet registered for the walk, there is still plenty of time to do so – we will be taking entries right up to the day. To download an entry form, please visit our website.

We are currently recruiting volunteers to our team of marshals for the big day. The team will have the important job of directing our walkers around the course and making sure everything runs smoothly. If you are interested in getting involved, I would love to hear from you – please email l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.

To all registered walker: Last week, we recommended that you set up a sponsorship page on the Just Giving website.. This week, our top tip to boost your fundraising is to ask your sponsors to Gift Aid it – this means we get an extra £28 for every £100 you raise. As long as your sponsors are UK tax payers and tell us their full name and full home address, we can claim back the tax they have already paid on their sponsorship from the Inland Revenue. We will not use your sponsors names and addresses for anything other than Gift Aid.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at anytime on l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.

In the News.....

Healthy lifestyle 'could prevent half of breast cancer cases'

The benefits of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle have been well researched and documented, and a recent report generated by the World Cancer Research Fund has found that about 20 000 cases of breast cancer in the UK could be prevented each year by increasing physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy weight. The figures suggested that of the 47 600 women that developed breast cancer in 2008, 42 percent of these cases (approximately 20 000) would be preventable if women developed healthier lifestyles.

Dr Rachel Thompson, Deputy Head of Science at the World Cancer Research Fund, reported on the figures, which she believes show “that we have a long way to go to raise awareness about what women can do to prevent breast cancer”, estimating that “about a third of the most common cancers could be prevented through a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight”.

Whilst these findings don’t take into account genetic and environmental factors that can also play a part in the development of breast cancer, they show the potential benefit a healthy lifestyle can have in minimising the risk of developing breast cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund have listed recommendations for cancer prevention, some of which include being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, being as lean as possible (without becoming underweight), limiting consumption of fatty, salty and sugary food and drink and eating fruit, vegetables and pulses. They also recommend eating less red meat and processed meat and if not abstaining from alcohol altogether, limiting alcoholic drinks to two a day for men and one a day for women and choosing a balanced diet rather than vitamin supplements.

To read further information, please click here and to read the World Cancer Research Fund’s press release click here.

Aromatase inhibitors could reduce mastectomy rates

Aromatase inhibitors are oestrogen lowering drugs that halt the supply of the female hormone oestrogen which fuels most breast cancers. The drugs only work in post-menopausal women where the oestrogen hormone is produced using the aromatase enzyme rather the ovaries.

A study led by Dr Matthew Ellis from Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis randomly assigned one of three approved aromatase inhibitors to 352 women with stage two to three breast cancer. From this group, 159 women had been told that they required a mastectomy but after 16 weeks of treatment, 81 were able to have breast conserving surgery instead. Furthermore, another 189 women were originally considered “marginal” for breast conservation due to the high likelihood of disfigurement. However, 83% saw enough tumour shrinkage to avoid a mastectomy.

Dr Ellis stressed that not all women respond well to aromatase inhibitors, he said “the biggest question in my mind is how best to treat the aromatase inhibitor-resistant patients. These patients have poor outcomes and currently there is no known targeted therapy for them.”

The above findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on 9th May 2011. To read the original article from The Telegraph, please click here.

The Cancerkin Team

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news…


New arrivals at Cancerkin

This week we are thrilled to welcome Una Reynolds, our new patient service co-ordinator, and Misako Ishii, our new reflexologist, to the Cancerkin team.

Una will be here to help with all enquiries about our services, making and changing appointments and information on new therapies. If you have any questions for Una, you can contact her on 0207 830 2323 or at u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.


Portugal Villa up for auction on eBay

As you may know, Cancerkin will be once again be auctioning off a Holiday in a luxury villa in Portugal, the use of which has been generously donated by one of our supporters. A week’s stay in the villa will be auctioned off on eBay from Thursday 12th May 2011 at 8pm until Sunday 22nd May 2011 at 8pm. Please help us spread the word and tell everyone you know about the auction!

Located near Porto in the North of Portugal, the stunning villa sleeps up to 10 and has its own swimming pool, outdoor seating and dining area and lots of outdoor space. If you have not yet booked your family summer holiday, this is a perfect opportunity to secure a stay in a fabulous location and to support Cancerkin at the same time. Click here for more details and pictures.


Hyde Park Walk update...

We are currently recruiting volunteers to our team of marshals for the big day on Sunday 19th June 2011. The team will have the important job of directing our walkers around the course and making sure every thing runs smoothly. If you are interested in getting involved, I would love to hear from you – please email l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.

Fundraising packs are now being sent out to our Hyde Park Walkers. If you are wondering how to kick off your fundraising efforts, we recommend that you set up a JustGiving page. Creating your page is a quick and easy process, and you can then email the link to friends, family and colleagues. You can also put it on your Facebook or Twitter page and use your status to tell people about how to donate. Don’t forget to enter your page under the Royal Free Cancerkin Breast Cancer Trust. Your sponsors will then be able to donate directly online. Click here to setup your page.

If you have not yet registered for the walk, there is still plenty of time to do so – we will be taking entries right up to the day. To download an entry form, please visit our website.


In news…


Discovery of new genes linked to ER positive breast cancer

Scientists at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research in London have this week announced the discovery of three new genes linked to the most common form of the disease, oestrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. Their research, published in the online journal PloS Genetics, looked at 104 patients with this type of breast cancer, in order to find which genes were most closely linked to the oestrogen receptor, the main driver of hormonal breast cancer. They found that three genes, known as C6ORF96, C6ORF97 and C6ORF211, were linked to but worked separately from the oestrogen receptor. For this reason, treatments such as tamoxifen, which target the oestrogen receptor, were unlikely to affect the activities of the three newly discovered genes.

The team of researches found that gene C6ORF211 was shown to drive the growth of tumours. They see this gene as the most likely target for new treatments. C6ORF97 was shown to be an indicator of a tumour not coming back, and also a good predictor of response to tamoxifen. Less is known about C6ORF96 but more research is being done. The genes’ discovery was a surprising find for the team as they are located directly next to the oestrogen receptor gene, one of the most well studied areas of the human genome. A member of the research team Dr Anita Dunbier said of this: “We found these genes in a place we thought we knew a lot about - it is like finding gold in Trafalgar Square.”

37,000 women are diagnosed with hormonal, or ER positive, breast cancer in the UK every year. This accounts for four in every five cases of the disease. It is thought that understanding these genes could lead to the development of new ways to treat and prevent hormonal breast cancer. Professor Mitch Dowsett, who led the Breakthrough Breast Cancer team, said: “This research is exciting because it shows that while the oestrogen receptor is the main driver of hormonal breast cancer, there are others next door to it that also appear to influence breast cancer behaviour. We now need to better understand how they work together and how we can utilise them to save lives of women with breast cancer.”

To read the announcement made by Breakthrough Breast Cancer in full, please click here.


Tamoxifen as a preventative medicine for high risk women

At the beginning of April, On the pulse discussed a new report into recent developments in breast cancer prevention. Results of a large international study into Tamoxifen indicated that the drug could be prescribed to high risk women as a method of prevention. The results of the IBIS1 study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggested that the risk of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer was reduced by around a third in women at an increased risk of the disease. Professor Jack Cuzick, a Cancer Research UK epidemiologist at Queen Mary University of London said that up to 10 per cent of all women could benefit from taking such drugs before the first signs of breast cancer even develop, in a similar way to how those at risk of heart disease are prescribed statins.

New analysis of the same research, which looked at 1,000 women at high risk of developing breast cancer, has revealed however that only half of the women given the hormone therapy appeared to benefit from taking it as a preventative medicine. Of those taking Tamoxifen, 46 percent saw their breast density drop by 10 per cent or more over a 12 to 18 month period, a sign that risk has decreased. The remaining 54 per cent whose breast density did not fall by 10 percent in the same period did not see a decrease in risk.

In response to this, Prof Cuzick said that tamoxifen should be not be written off as a preventative drug. If women showed no reduction in breast density after 12 to 18 months, they should switch to another drug rather than "hoping for the best". Tamoxifen is not currently licensed to be used as a preventative medicine in the UK but the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will discuss widening its use later in the year.

To read the full article from The Telegraph, please click here.

Laura Smith 6th May 2011

On the pulse


Cancerkin’s News Update…

Portugal Villa up for auction on eBay

One of our generous supporters has once again donated the use of her Portugal holiday villa, to be auctioned off in aid of Cancerkin. Located near Porto in the North of Portugal, the stunning villa sleeps up to 10 and has its own swimming pool, outdoor seating and dining area and lots of outdoor space.

A week’s stay in the villa will be auctioned off on eBay. The auction will be open for bids from Thursday 12th May 2011 at 8pm and will run for 10 days until Sunday 22nd May 2011 at 8pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to support Cancerkin whilst securing a fabulous treat for your family or a group of friends. Please help us spread the word and tell everyone you know about the auction!

Click here for more details and pictures.


Hyde Park Walk 2011

Entries for Cancerkin’s annual sponsored Hyde Park Walk on Sunday 19th June 2011 are coming in thick and fast! If you have not yet registered, there is still plenty of time to do so – we will be taking entries right up to the day of the walk. If you would like to request an entry form, please contact call Laura on 0207 830 2323, or download a form from our website.


Good luck Joy!

Joy Okoye will be running the Neolithic Marathon this Sunday 1st May 2011 to raise funds for Cancerkin and three other charities. We wish her the best of luck for the day!


Therapies update

This week we say goodbye to reflexologist Jenni Stone. We thank her for all her hard work over the years and wish her the best for the future!

Please note that Art Therapy, Kundalini Yoga, Nia Technique, Tai Chi, Pilates and Yoga classes will all restart next week from Tuesday 2nd May, following a break over the April holiday period.



In the news…


New research into body’s defence against cancer

Cancer Research UK’s science blog this week discussed the ways in which the body defends itself against the development of cancer. A fascinating new piece of research into these processes, reported in Science Journal Medicine, has discovered a way in which cells protect themselves that could potentially offer opportunities for the development of new methods of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

As explained in the blog, there are a number of processes that allow the body to locate and destroy cancerous cells. We generate tumour-prone cells everyday and in order to prevent these from developing into cancer, injured cells produce ‘tumour suppressor’ proteins which kill or stop the division of such cells. In addition to this, they are targeted by white blood cells produced by the immune system.

A team of US researchers, led by Professors Mina Bissell and Wen-Hwa Lee, have now identified a protein also produced by the immune system that kills breast cancer cells whilst leaving healthy cells unharmed. Whilst examining the relationship between breast cancer cells and their healthy counterparts, they found that the protein interleukin-25 (IL-25) exclusively killed cancerous cells but had no effect on healthy ones. Further investigation revealed that cancer cells often have a protein known as IL-25 Receptor (IL-25R) on their surface, which causes the cell to die when it comes into contact with IL-25. Healthy cells do not produce IL-25R so are protected from this process.

Researchers believe that cancer cells produce IL-25R during the development of breast cancer as a means of distinguishing themselves. IL-25 is then produced by healthy cells to keep the cancerous cells in check. Although much more research needs to be done into the process, scientists think it could provide the basis for diagnostic tests and treatments for breast cancer in the future which target IL-25R. As the blog points out, similar studies into the protein HER2/neu led to the development of the now widely used breast cancer drug Herceptin.

To read the blog in full, please click here.


Laura Smith

28th April 2011

On the pulse


Cancerkin’s news…

Lymphoedema clinic’s coming of age

Last Tuesday, Cancerkin’s lymphoedema clinic celebrated its 21st Birthday! The clinic has now been providing a gold standard care to breast cancer patients with lymphoedema for over two decades and, as a result, it consistently receives outstanding levels of feedback. In our 2010 patient survey, it was scored 10 out of 10 by 92% of its patients.

Our lymphoedema therapists are supported by a dedicated team of six volunteers who manage the smooth day-to-day running of the clinic and are loved by patients and staff alike. Together with our CEO Victoria Todd, we would like to extend our thanks to these fantastic women - Helen Bennett, Evelyn Ellis, Pat Gussetti, Monika Hashmi, Melanie Kornitzer and Renate Tingay - for all their hard work over the years. Thank you!


Hyde Park Walk 2011

Registration is now open for Cancerkin’s annual sponsored Hyde Park Walk and we have already received lots of entries! If you have not yet received your invitation and registration form, it will be in the post to you this week, otherwise do contact l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk to request a form. This year’s walk will take place on Sunday 19th June 2011 at 10.30am and we hope to see as many of you there as possible!


Lectures in June

We are pleased to announce that in June, we will be holding two lectures here at the Cancerkin Centre, which will be open to all our patients and supporters.

Mr Mohammed Keshtgar FRCSI FRCS (Gen) PhD, Consultant Surgical Oncologist at the Royal Free and Whittington Hospitals will present the first lecture on 6th June 2011 at 3pm, which will be followed by a question and answer session.

The second lecture will be given by Dr Anmol Malhotra MB BS BSc(Hons) MRCP FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lead at the Royal Free. It will take place on 28th June 2011 at 11am. Dr Malhotra will talk about recent developments in breast imaging before taking questions from the audience.

To reserve a place at either of these events, please contact Laura on 0207 830 2323 or email l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.



In the news…

New study into cancer and alcohol

As discussed in last week’s edition, the role that alcohol plays in determining breast cancer risk has been well documented. Research shows that the more a woman drinks, the more her risk of developing the disease increases. It is also known that alcohol consumption increases risk of mouth, throat, bowel and liver cancer.

A new report published in the British Medical Journal this week shows that at least 13,000 cases of cancer a year in the UK are caused by alcohol. Research as part of the Cancer Research UK-funded European Prospective Investigation of Cancer study (EPIC), which looks into the links between diet and cancer, has examined how drinking different amounts of alcohol affects cancer risk and has combined this with figures of how much British people drink. Researchers found that alcohol had the biggest effect on cancers of the mouth, food-pipe, voice-box and pharynx, lying at the cause of around 6,000 cases a year. It was found to cause more than 3,000 cases of colorectal cancers and around 2,500 cases of breast cancer each year.

As Cancer Research UK’s press release on the report highlighted this week, the results have worrying implications. Naomi Allen, a Cancer Research UK epidemiologist working on the EPIC study, said: “This research supports existing evidence that alcohol causes cancer and that the risk increases even with drinking moderate amounts. The results from this study reflect the impact of people’s drinking habits about ten years ago. People are drinking even more now than then and this could lead to more people developing cancer because of alcohol in the future.” Government figures from the Office of National Statistics published last week support this and show that an increasing number of women are drinking well over the recommended limit of alcohol for a week. As we saw last week, even one drink a day can increase a woman’s breast cancer risk and so these statistics are of great concern.

To read more, please click here.


Laura Smith 15th April 2011

On the pulse

Cancerkin’s news…

Hyde Park Walk 2011…

Registration is now open for Cancerkin’s annual sponsored Hyde Park Walk - your invitation and registration form will be in the post as we speak! This year’s walk will take place on Sunday 19th June 2011 at 10.30am and we do hope to see as many of you there as possible. For more event details and extra registration forms, please visit our fundraising events page here.

Dance therapy…

From next week, Cancerkin will be offering weekly Dance therapy classes with Marina Benini MA RDMP, Lecturer in Movement Studies and Dance Movement Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths Unit of Psychotherapeutic studies. They will be held on Mondays from 11.30am to 12.30am, beginning 11th April 2011. Please contact Habeeb on 020 7830 2323 or at h.ahmed@cancerkin.org.uk to register your interest.


In the news…

Alcohol and breast cancer

An interesting article was posted on the Susan G. Komen for the cure website this week, giving a useful summary of research into the relationship between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. As the article explains, it is clear that drinking alcohol excessively is harmful to our general health and can increase breast cancer risk. What is less commonly known is how drinking in moderation impacts upon breast cancer risk and upon those who have already had breast cancer.

Research has found that even a few drinks a week can modestly increase breast cancer risk. The more a women drinks, the more her risk increases. Analysis of 53 separate studies into alcohol has found that for each drink consumed per day, risk increases by seven percent, with those who drink two or three alcoholic beverages a day having a 20 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer than non-drinkers. There are a number of ways in which alcohol affects breast cancer risk. As explained in the article, alcohol is highly calorific and is often a contributing factor to excess weight gain. Heavier women tend to have higher levels of oestrogen in their blood, which can in turn increase breast cancer risk. However, alcohol has been to found to impact risk independent of body weight – it can affect the way the body processes oestrogen, causing levels to rise and thus increasing risk. Studies suggest a diet rich in the nutrient folate, or folic acid, can reduce breast cancer risk related to alcohol consumption. Folate allows the body to copy and repair DNA, but drinking alcohol can reduce levels in the blood making incorrect copies of DNA more likely when cells divide, potentially leading to the growth of cancerous cells.

The article states that, for a healthy woman, drinking some alcohol (less than one drink a day) can have health benefits, for example lowering risk of heart disease and hypertension. However, it is not yet know if drinking alcohol in moderation has any such health benefits for breast cancer survivors. The results of studies into the relationship between alcohol and the risk of breast cancer recurrence and breast cancer mortality are mixed - some show there is an increased risk whilst others show there is none. What the article does make clear is that the benefits outlined above can be gained through exercise and healthy diet instead of alcohol, and that excessive drinking does not have health benefits for anyone, only health risks.
To read the full article, please click here.


New Guidelines for Breast Cancer Treatment

This week, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) released new draft guidelines for healthcare providers on the treatment of breast cancer. The draft outlines 13 ‘quality standards’ including guidance on referring suspected cases to a screening unit, offering ultrasound to those with early invasive breast cancer; and proving adequate removal and good aesthetic outcome for those who undergo surgery. The standards will provide objective guidance to patients and medical professionals on how good care should look. The aims of the quality standards are to ‘prevent people from dying prematurely, to ensure that people have a positive experience of care, and to treat and care for people in a safe environment and protecting them from avoidable harm.’

Included in the standards is detailed guidance on providing access to surgery and hormone therapy for early invasive breast cancer patients, irrespective of their age. As reported in On the pulse in February and March, recent studies into breast cancer treatment in the elderly have revealed that those over 70 are much less likely than those under 70 to receive surgery as treatment for their breast cancer. A recent NICE study found that less than 60 percent of breast cancer patients over 70 received surgery as part of their treatment, compared with 96 percent of middle-aged patients. As a result, the new standards state that the proportion of patients over 70 who receive surgery, as well as endocrine therapy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, will now be monitored.

Dr Fergus Macbeth, Director of the Centre for Clinical Practice at NICE said: “Sadly, breast cancer affects a large number of women in England, so this standard is an important step in helping those responsible for the treatment of patients with this condition to deliver the best care possible.” Dr Rachel Greig, Senior Policy Officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “These draft guidelines could be a step forward in ensuring that important information is more accessible and user friendly for healthcare professionals and patients. We want to ensure that all breast cancer patients have every chance to beat this disease. Therefore we hope these standards will safeguard best practice and provide clarity on the level of care expected for the treatment of breast cancer.”

To read a Telegraph report, click here. For further information about the draft quality standards on the NICE website, please click here.


Laura Smith 8th April 2011

On the pulse


Cancerkin’s news…

Hyde Park Walk 2011 update

Registration is now open for Cancerkin’s annual sponsored Hyde Park Walk - your invitation and registration form will be in the post as we speak! This year’s walk will take place on Sunday 19th June 2011 at 10.30am.

We hope to make 2011 the biggest and most successful walk yet, so please spread the word to your families, friends, colleagues and schoolmates. The walk is a great fun event for people of all ages and fitness as you can walk, jog or run the 10k course twice round the Serpentine. We already have a number of teams signed up to who will be walking and fundraising together - why don't you set up a team too?

The Hyde Park walk is a very special occasion for many of our walkers, as every year all are invited to walk in honour or in memory of a loved one if they choose.

For more details and for extra registration forms, please visit our fundraising events page here.


Drama workshops coming soon…

Back by popular demand, Christine Fox will be holding weekly drama workshops beginning Friday 6th May from 10.30am to 12pm. 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! There will be ten sessions to start with culminating in a possible performance for those who are interested. Please note that workshops will take place every Friday until 15th July, excluding Friday 24th June. To reserve a place, please call 0207 830 2323 or email Laura, at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk.


Cancerkin wants you!

Cancerkin wants to recruit a new member to its team in the full-time role of patient co-coordinator. If you are a bright and enthusiastic individual with plenty of initiative and administrative experience, we would love to hear from you. You can find more details about the position on the ‘jobs with us’ section of our website www.cancerkin.org.uk. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please forward a CV together with a covering letter saying why you want the job to info@cancerkin.org.uk.


In the news…


Future developments in breast cancer prevention

A review published this week in the Lancet Oncology Journal and composed by an international panel of cancer experts has concluded that women with an above average risk of developing breast cancer should be offered preventative measures and closer monitoring. It was agreed by the panel that if current trials into methods of predicting breast cancer risk are successful, certain drugs could be used for preventing breast cancer in women with an elevated risk, much in the same way as statins are given to those at risk of heart disease.

As stated in the report, there is strong evidence to suggest that drugs such as Tamoxifen are effective in preventing breast cancer in high risk women. The results of large international trials into this particular drug indicate that the risk of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer is reduced by around a third in women at an increased risk of the disease. Other drugs including raloxifene, lasofozifene, arzoxifene and aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole and exemestane, also show positive results but require further investigation.

By finding ways to predict risk and therefore identify who may respond to such treatments, those who are most likely to benefit can be targeted. One of the strongest indicators of breast cancer risk is breast density as displayed on a mammogram. Those with dense breast tissue are around four times more likely to be at risk of the disease than those with the least dense tissue. This could therefore be used to determine who is at risk, as well as to indicate positive response to treatment, displayed by a reduction in breast density. Early trial results into Tamoxifen have shown that when the drug decreases breast density, cancer risk also decreases. As chair of the panel, Professor Jack Cuzick, explains: “if this is confirmed in long-term studies, breast density could become a powerful way to identify high-risk women who could benefit from preventive treatments.”

He added: “Although drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene are licensed in the US, we know that neither is widely used, mainly due to concern around the potential side effects, and an inability to predict breast cancer risk accurately. We hope that in the future it may be possible to assess women’s breast cancer risk as part of routine breast screening and offer personalised advice about risk reduction and medicines for preventing breast cancer.”

To read more about the review, please click here.


Laura Smith 1st April 2011
l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk