QNBC, Fecal transplants, Vaccines & mammography, Bone met markers, & more
14th issue: Contents
- Quadruple-Negative Breast Cancer: Novel Implications for a New Disease
- COVID-19 Has Wiped Out Cancer Research Fundraising
- Educated Patient® Breast Cancer Summit, free webinar, March 7, 2021
- Fecal Transplant Overcomes Resistance to Immunotherapy
- Vitamin D supplementation to the older adult population in Germany has the cost‐saving potential of preventing almost 30,000 cancer deaths per year
- Tumor Marker of Bone Metastasis in ER+ Breast Cancer Identified
- Israeli scientists say they’ve found ‘Achilles’ heel’ of cancer cells
- Cancer Mortality Is on the Decline
- National Organization Recommends Women Delay Mammogram Screening Following COVID-19 Vaccine
- How Much Does Drinking Alcohol Contribute to US Cancer Burden?
- Americans for SafeAccess (ASA) releases Patient’s Guide to CBD (2019)
- Substances with Activity Against HER2+ Breast Cancer
• Quadruple-Negative Breast Cancer: Novel Implications for a New Disease
“Based on the androgen receptor (AR) expression, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) can be subdivided into AR-positive TNBC and AR-negative TNBC, also known as quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC).”
My two cents: Could it get any more complicated for us? The good news is that previously diagnosed TNBC patients who can now be characterized as AR-positive TNBC have more treatment options available. The bad news is that QNBC feels cursed 4 ways and may be seen as a more aggressive cancer. Either way, knowledge is power.
• COVID-19 Has Wiped Out Cancer Research Fundraising
“Cancer Research UK has projected an annual loss of income of roughly 200 million pounds… Canadian Cancer Society has reported a drop of around $100 million. The American Cancer Society has reported a drop of around $200 million.”
My two cents: Hopefully, we’ll get back to having social fundraisers at some point soon.
• Educated Patient® Breast Cancer Summit, free webinar, March 7, 2021
“a half-day virtual event seeking to educate, inform and challenge the thinking of patients with breast cancer.”
My two cents: Knowledge is power.
• Fecal Transplant Overcomes Resistance to Immunotherapy
“Patients with advanced melanoma who had previously not responded to immunotherapy showed a response after treatment with fecal transplants. The material for the fecal transplants was obtained from patients who were experiencing a response to immunotherapy with the anti-PD-1 agent, pembrolizumab.When the fecal transplants were given to the patients who had not responded, they “changed the gut microbiome and reprogrammed the tumor microenvironment to overcome resistance” to the immunotherapy, say researchers reporting a proof-of-concept study in Science.”
My two cents: Perhaps this seems a little gross, but I find it fascinating in light of all e have been learning about our microbiome and the success of fecal transplants with other health issues. Although this was done with melanoma patients, I’m hoping it will be applicable to all kinds of cancer patients for which immunotherapy might stop working for. For example, I am on Herceptin and Perjeta “for life” until it stops working. The assumption is that it will eventually fail as cancer figures out a way around it. Perhaps, more important since I am NEAD, perhaps finally, my shit might be worth something to someone else. LOL.
• Vitamin D supplementation to the older adult population in Germany has the cost‐saving potential of preventing almost 30,000 cancer deaths per year
“Recent meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated significant reduction of cancer mortality by vitamin D supplementation. We estimated costs and savings for preventing cancer deaths by vitamin D supplementation of the population aged 50+ years in Germany.”
My two cents: Just think how many could be saved in this country by something so simple! My Vitamin D levels were int he basement when I was diagnosed. I supplement aggressively to keep my levels on the higher end of normal range since then. I’m NEAD… coincidence? As I’ve shared research before, I also think it may be the single most important factor in contraction and severity of Covid-19.
• Tumor Marker of Bone Metastasis in ER+ Breast Cancer Identified
“This could help clinicians in the identification of patients who likely can develop bone metastasis and who could benefit from personalized treatments and follow-up strategies to prevent metastatic disease.”
My two cents: New non-invasive methods to diagnose and proscribe targeted treatments are always good news.
• Cancer Mortality Is on the Decline
“overall death rates from cancer have been in a continuous decline which includes a 2.4% decrease from 2017 to 2018.”
My two cents: Yay! Decline in mortality is good but 5-year survival rate of 63-68% is still nothing to cheer. We knew and loved them.
• Israeli scientists say they’ve found ‘Achilles’ heel’ of cancer cells
“Malignant cells have an abnormal number of chromosomes….if we can take advantage of this quite unique difference between cancer cells and normal cells in order to selectively kill the cancer cells.”
My two cents: Oh, those Israelis. They seem to be dominating the cancer research good news cycle recently. Good for them. Good for us.
• National Organization Recommends Women Delay Mammogram Screening Following COVID-19 Vaccine
“The Society of Breast Imaging has recommended that women undergo a mammogram screening either before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or wait to get their breasts imaged anywhere from four to six weeks after receiving the second dose of the vaccine.”
My two cents: Basically, what they are worried about is false positives since vaccine may cause temporary lymph swelling. Good to know, if you see someone getting mammograms and vaccines.
• How Much Does Drinking Alcohol Contribute to US Cancer Burden?
“In the United States, on average, alcohol consumption accounts for 4.8% of cancer cases and 3.2% of cancer deaths.”
My two cents: there are several other interesting statistics in this article, including that the number for female breast cancer cases is 12.1%
• Americans for SafeAccess (ASA) releases Patient’s Guide to CBD (2019)
“ASA RELEASES PATIENT’S GUIDE TO CBD IN RESPONSE TO FDA PUBLIC HEARING”
My two cents: From 2019, but still very educational. CBD saved my life. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and kills cancer.
• Substances with Activity Against HER2+ Breast Cancer
My two cents: One of you guys turned me on to this information grid compiled and posted by a HER2+ Facebook Group.Like my own information I have compiled, you should do your own research to find the right path for you, but it is a great jumping off point to do so. (Thanks, Ann)
Cancer in the News has a posting frequency of once every two weeks, usually on Wednesday.
