Network News - Winter/Spring 2010 - Canadian Breast Cancer ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

View CBCN Webinars Online CBCN has hosted Webinars in the past couple of months that are currently available online. Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Breast Cancer Survivors, Part 1: Nutrition and Breast Cancer Exciting new research is emerging on the role of diet, exercise and healthy body weights in women with breast cancer. This informative 1-hour session provided the latest evidence on the role of lifestyle choices in improving your quality of life and reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. One half hour was allotted for questions at the end of the Webinar. The Webinar was presented by Cheri Van Patten, Registered Dietitian and Researcher at BC Cancer Agency. Participants learned about: • The latest evidence on soy • About the link between vitamin D and breast cancer • The importance of a healthy body weight • How much alcohol is safe to drink • How a low fat diet effects cancer recurrence • The benefits of exercise after diagnosis • Where to find credible sources of information and resources Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Breast Cancer Survivors - Part 2: One-hour question and answer period Due to the overwhelming response to the Nutrition and Breast Cancer Webinar, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network hosted a follow up question & answer Webinar, presented by Cheri Van Patten. Breast Cancer Surgery and Lymphedema: Are You at Risk? Breast cancer surgery can leave you vulnerable for developing lymphedema up to 30 years after treatment. The Webinar was presented by Judy Bedell, Breast Cancer Action Ottawa’s Lymphedema Educator Leader. Contents include: • The facts about lymphedema • How to self-monitor • Important lifestyle recommendations • When / where to go for help • Exercises to delay the onset of/ or to manage lymphedema • Where to get a set of Lymphedema Alert Bracelets Program Evaluation: Where do we start? The purpose of this webinar was to increase effectiveness in planning for and participating in evaluation. Program Evaluation is an organized method of collecting and analyzing information about program activities, characteristics and outcomes to measure program effectiveness and provide input into program improvement. This Webinar was facilitated by Patsy Beattie-Huggan, president of The Quaich in Charlottetown, PEI. Contents include: • How to decide whether to evaluate or not • Different evaluation approaches and methods • How to design an evaluation • How to analyze the information • How to report the evaluation findings Proposal Writing Alanna LaPerle was the facilitator for this session; she is a consultant with over 20 years experience in nonprofit and public sector marketing, communications and program planning. She provides a range of services that include grant writing, marketing research, social marketing, program planning and evaluation, and development of marketing-communication resources. Contents include: • How to adopt a marketing approach to grant writing • A step by step guide to putting a proposal together Please Note: To properly view these Webinars you will need to have Windows Media Player or Real Player on your computer as well as speakers hooked up for audio. To view these webinars, please go to: www.cbcn.ca/en/index.php?section=3&category=2219& regionid Alternatively, please go to “webinars” in the resources section of the CBCN website: www.cbcn.ca For more info on any of these Webinars, contact Jenn McNeil, Project Coordinator, jmcneil@cbcn.ca. • 10 Network News Winter/Spring 2010
What is BRCA? By Dawna M. Gilchrist, MD, FRCPC, FCCMG, DHMSA What are BRCA1 and BRCA2? BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumor suppressors. In normal cells, BRCA1 and BRCA2 help ensure the stability of the cell’s genetic material (DNA) and help prevent uncontrolled cell growth. Mutation of these genes has been linked to the development of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The names BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 and breast cancer susceptibility gene 2, respectively. In the general population, approximately 1 in 8 women (12%) will develop breast cancer and 1.5-2% will develop ovarian cancer in her lifetime. Only 5-10% of breast and ovarian cancer is hereditary, that is, due to mutations in specific cancer susceptibility genes. How do people know if they should consider genetic counselling for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations? The likelihood of a harmful mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 is increased with certain familial patterns of cancer. These patterns include the following: For women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent: • Any first-degree relative diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer and • Two second-degree relatives on the same side of the family diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer These family history patterns apply to about 2% of adult women in the general population. Women who have none of these family history patterns have a low probability of having a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. In a family with a history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, it may be most informative to first test a family member who has breast or ovarian cancer. If that person is found to have a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, then other family members can be tested to see if they also have the mutation. Regardless, women who have a relative with a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and women who appear to be at increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer because of their family history should consider genetic counselling to learn more about their potential risks and about BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic tests. BRCA1 Women with BRCA1 mutations have, by age 70, an average cumulative breast cancer risk of approximately 57% (47%-66%). Approximately half develop breast cancer by the age of 50. By age 70, there is an average cumulative ovarian cancer risk of approximately 40% (35%-46%), and this risk starts to significantly increase in the 30’s. Risk for Manifesting Breast Cancer per Decade: Age % 20-30 3.6 30-40 14.0 40-50 31.0 50-60 15.0 60-70 7.0 Men with BRCA1 mutations are only at a slightly increased lifetime risk for prostate cancer and breast cancer. BRCA2 Dr. Dawna M. Gilchrist Women with BRCA2 mutations have, by age 70, an average cumulative breast cancer risk of approximately 49% (40%-57%). Approximately one in three women will develop breast cancer by age 50. By age 70, there is an average cumulative ovarian cancer risk of approximately 18% (13%-23%), and this risk starts to significantly increase in the 40’s. Risk for Manifesting Breast Cancer per Decade: Age % 20-30 0.6 30-40 12.0 40-50 36.0 50-60 20.0 60-70 36.0 Men with BRCA2 mutations are at a three times increased lifetime risk for prostate cancer (compared to 12% in the general population). The lifetime risk for male breast cancer is approximately 6%. Risk of a Second Primary Breast Cancer The risk for another primary breast cancer is up to five times higher with a BRCA1/2 mutation (as compared to sporadic breast cancer), with a lifetime risk of 40-50% by age 70. The risk for a second primary breast cancer may be reduced by previous treatment with Tamoxifen and/or previous treatment with chemotherapy that produces menopause. Network News Winter/Spring 2010 11
Page 1 and 2: Canadian Breast Cancer Network Wint
Page 3 and 4: e part of a remarkable Board of Dir
Page 5 and 6: CBCN Board Members, staff and parti
Page 7 and 8: carry a BRCA mutation. If you would
Page 9: January 2009 and after several scan
Page 13 and 14: 5. Where possible, and if patient/f
Page 15 and 16: Hormone Therapy After Risk Reducing
Page 17 and 18: Knowledge is Power Interview with J
Page 19 and 20: Informing Women of the Risks and Be
Page 21 and 22: Susan Armel is the senior genetic c
Page 23 and 24: BRCA1/2 Testing: Navigating Through
Page 25 and 26: having surgery but is not currently
Page 27 and 28: the risk of hereditary cancer. A ri
Page 29 and 30: At present, we are recruiting women
Page 31 and 32: Familial Breast Cancer and No BRCA1
Page 33 and 34: ‘E’ is for Empowered - Are You
Page 35 and 36: Continued from Page 30 Top 10 Thing

Network News - Winter/Spring 2010 - Canadian Breast Cancer ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?