Breakthrough Breast Cancer has launched a guide for people with an increased risk of developing breast cancer due to their family history.
The guide providesinformation on national standards for services and care for people who have a suspected or confirmed family history of breast cancer, in one single, accessible place. It combines expert advice from professionals as well as experiences from women with a family history of breast cancer. It allows both men and women to have a wider understanding of their risk of familial breast cancer and help them navigate the NHS services available to them.
A family history of breast cancer means having an unusually high number of close relatives with the disease or some other form of cancer, such as ovarian. Of the nearly 48,000 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, about one in five has a family history of the disease. Having a family history of breast cancer means that you may be more likely to develop the disease, and at a younger age, compared with the general population.
About 1 in 20 breast cancers are associated with inherited faults in breast cancer genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.
You can read the guide on http://breakthrough.org.uk/document.rm?id=1695
Showing posts with label Breast Cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breast Cancer. Show all posts
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Keep taking that Tamoxifen!
I see that experts are urging breast cancer patients to complete their full prescription of tamoxifen, following long-term results from a major Cancer Research UK-funded trial which showed the cancer was less likely to come back in women who took the drug for five years, compared to two years.
I didn't have to take it myself (my cancer wasn't hormone positive) but I know that some women suffer side effects and in some cases decide to stop taking it after 2 or 3 years. But the statistics show that there is a marked differnce if it is taken for 2 years versus , if recommended, 5 years.
Of the nearly 3,500 patients took part in the UK study, the cancer came back in around 40 per cent of the women who took tamoxifen for five years, compared to 46 per cent among those who took it for two years, according to results published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
So for every hundred women who completed the full five year course of tamoxifen, the cancer came back in around six fewer women, compared to those who only took the drug for two years.
Scientists already know that taking tamoxifen for five years gives the best chance of survival from breast cancer. But this randomised trial - led by researchers based at the Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre - is the first large study to compare the long-term benefit of five years of tamoxifen versus two, over a ten year follow-up period.*
An interesting additional benefit of taking tamoxifen for five years was that it was found to reduce the risk of developing or dying from heart disease. This effect was strongest among women aged 50-59 at diagnosis, with 35 percent fewer women developing a heart condition and nearly 60 per cent fewer deaths as a result.
What has your been your experience on tamoxifen ?
I didn't have to take it myself (my cancer wasn't hormone positive) but I know that some women suffer side effects and in some cases decide to stop taking it after 2 or 3 years. But the statistics show that there is a marked differnce if it is taken for 2 years versus , if recommended, 5 years.
Of the nearly 3,500 patients took part in the UK study, the cancer came back in around 40 per cent of the women who took tamoxifen for five years, compared to 46 per cent among those who took it for two years, according to results published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
So for every hundred women who completed the full five year course of tamoxifen, the cancer came back in around six fewer women, compared to those who only took the drug for two years.
Scientists already know that taking tamoxifen for five years gives the best chance of survival from breast cancer. But this randomised trial - led by researchers based at the Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre - is the first large study to compare the long-term benefit of five years of tamoxifen versus two, over a ten year follow-up period.*
An interesting additional benefit of taking tamoxifen for five years was that it was found to reduce the risk of developing or dying from heart disease. This effect was strongest among women aged 50-59 at diagnosis, with 35 percent fewer women developing a heart condition and nearly 60 per cent fewer deaths as a result.
What has your been your experience on tamoxifen ?
Monday, January 17, 2011
6 year old donates her hair to charity.
I spotted a truly heart warming story about a 6 year old girl in the USA who had decided to cut her long blonde hair. When her mother reluctantly took her to the hairdressers, they suggested letting is get a little longer as she could then donate the hair to a company who make wigs for children. In the USA every year so many children lose their hair due to burns, chemo and alopecia. What a lovely thing to do! Follow the link a see a photo of this great little lady! http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Calgary+year+donates+hair+cancer+victim+wigs/4117945/story.html
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Four Live features Feelgood Scarves on RTE!
I was lucky enough to be invited onto a popular afternoon TV show 'Four Live' - it gave me a chance to spread the word about 'Feelgood Scarves' and lots of people have visited the website since the show. Its available to watch on http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1082240.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Welcome news on Breast Cancer screening!
How fantastic to read in The Irish Times (front page 22nd December 2009) about a breakthrough made in NUI Galway, which may mean that within a couple of years, a simple blood test could be used for Breast Cancer screening.
Not only would we avoid the discomfort of a mammogram, but this test might be a lot more accurate in detecting the presence of breast cancer. I would love to think that before long it could be used on cancer survivors as part of our annual screening - wouldn't it be comforting to get an 'all clear' result. It would certainly put my mind at rest.
Congratulations to Prof Michael Kerin and his team, what a wonderful achievement, something that will certainly put Ireland on the map for all the right reasons!
Not only would we avoid the discomfort of a mammogram, but this test might be a lot more accurate in detecting the presence of breast cancer. I would love to think that before long it could be used on cancer survivors as part of our annual screening - wouldn't it be comforting to get an 'all clear' result. It would certainly put my mind at rest.
Congratulations to Prof Michael Kerin and his team, what a wonderful achievement, something that will certainly put Ireland on the map for all the right reasons!
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