19.01.2012

Aspirin should be evaluated for its ability to prevent the development of cervical cancer in HIV-infected women, says a new international report.

The report, published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, says this simple and inexpensive solution has the potential to provide enormous benefit for women in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, who suffer from a disproportionately high rate of cervical cancer death.

“These young patients – many of whom were mothers and the sole support for their families – had worked hard to have their HIV controlled with antiretroviral therapy, only to develop and die from cervical cancer,” said the study’s lead researcher, Dr Daniel Fitzgerald from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, US.

Research finding

The research, which was a collaboration between specialists in the US, Haiti and Qatar, discovered that HIV caused chronic inflammation in cervical tissue, which in turn is linked to cancer development in a number of tumour types, including cervical cancer.

Professor Lynette Denny from the University of Cape Town’s Department Obstetrics & Gynaecology explained that main reason for the high incidence of HPV-related disease (of which cervical cancer is one) in HIV-positive women is the immune compromised induced by HIV infection which depletes what is known as cell mediated immunity – precisely the type of immunity required to clear HPV infection.

This may help explain why HIV-positive women are five times more likely to develop invasive cervical cancer than HIV-negative women. It also suggests that inhibitors of the COX-2 molecule (which contributes to the production of PGE2 which elevates tumour formation) might break the link between HIV and cervical cancer. Aspirin is one of the cheapest and most effective COX inhibitors.

“Future studies will be needed to determine whether aspirin-like agents, known inhibitors of prostaglandin production, can reduce the risk of cervical cancer in this high-risk population,” said another senior author Dr Andrew Dannenberg, director of the Weill Cornell Cancer Centre at Weill Cornell Medical College.

“This is an interesting research angle but there is no data to support the use of anti-prostaglandins to prevent cervical cancer – although there is most likely to be a role,” said Professor Denny. She added that although the hypotheses have some validity, she will not recommend it to the public until it has been verified in large clinical trials.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among South African women, and 1 in every 35 women in the country will be affected by it in her lifetime. The high prevalence of cervical cancer is fuelled by the high burden of HIV/Aids among the South African population.

Sources: EurekAlert!, CANSA.org

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Even though I can change my mind and decide to have reconstruction,
three years later, I know that to not have reconstruction was the right
decision for me.

Living with no breasts has taken a lot of hard work to feel whole and
feminine again. I never thought it would have a serious affect on me -
having not been a “body-beautiful” type person, so no worries! WRONG -
in time I realised with horror that my breasts were an intrinsic part of
my femininity and I felt totally vulnerable and ugly without them. I
had taken them totally for granted.

Now, some years later, I am still on the journey to total recovery and
acceptance, but have come a long way. I feel whole and feminine again
even though my body is “different”. I no longer hide my flat chest – I
use it to encourage other women to go for regular checks to ensure they
don’t end up in the same position! It is also a huge advantage when
cycling on a corrugated dust road!!

Anne

Originally I did not think that losing a breast will impact 
emotionally on me. However, as time went by, I realised it is 
affecting me more than I thought. My journey with reconstruction was 
another challenge. My body rejected the prosthesis implants twice. In 
February 2010 a Tram Flap operation (where one’s own tissue is used to
form a breast) was successfully done. Five reconstructive operations 
later, I finally completed my journey to wholeness! I do not have to 
hide my breast behind a scarf or jacket any more. What a blessing! I 
love my new breast, it feels and looks like my own!

Frieda

http://www.mesothelioma.com/

http://www.cancercare.org/tagged/bone_health

Childhood cancer survivors on average live 10 years less than the rest of us, mainly because being a survivor opens the door to new risks.

Tanasia Dogan knows that all too well. After sinus cancer in high school left her disfigured, she’s just starting to go out in public again.

“Embarrassed and ashamed and really depressed and I closed myself in and I didn’t talk to no one, I didn’t leave the house,” Dogan said.

A visit to the dentist’s office revealed her jaw bone had been eaten away. After undergoing intensive chemotherapy, doctors removed the plum sized tumor during a 22-hour surgery. But attempts at reconstructing her jaw have been rejected by her face. She’s had 15 surgeries and is ready for another. “He has to give me new bone and reconstruct my eye socket,” she said.

Dogan is just one of the 350,000 childhood cancer survivors in the U.S. Two-thirds of them will have another life-threatening illness at some point in their lives.

“Heart problems, lung problems, issues with their kidneys, some of them have fertility issues. Many are at high risk for second cancers,” said Dr. Tara Henderson, Medical Director of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Center at the University of Chicago.

Without proper screening, these survivors are put at risk all over again. Dr. Henderson offered Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as an example.  “Women that got chest radiation to cure that Hodgkin’s Lymphoma have extremely high rates of breast cancer,” she said.

But many doctors are unaware of these risks. A recent survey of 1,500 physicians found less than 5 percent of them knew the proper screening for pediatric cancer survivors of Hodgkin’s.

“By improving the screening and detecting long-term problems earlier will ultimately reduce the morbidity and mortality of these patients, ” Henderson said.

As for Dogan , she’s still working on the present.

“It’s like I have this thing in my head, like once I was diagnosed with the cancer that Dogan had left. And now it’s a new Dogan that I have to get to know. I don’t know her just yet,” she said.

When she does, she’d like to be a motivational speaker for others like her.

To assist in this Golf Day being a success and to raise the required funds, we have secured the attendance of some high profile sportsmen and individuals in the entertainment industry.

Please refer to the information leaflet by clicking on the heading to read more.

(To view the leaflet in full screen, click on the first tab in the SCRIBD section at bottom of leaflet).

PLWC would like to  refer our website visitors to these  links until we have South African Data available . This is an important topic and when you are diagnosed with cancer you must  please  discuss  these  issues with your oncologist !!  See a specialist re fertility issues prior to  chemotherapy  and radiation  treatment. 

www.livestrong.org/Get-Help/Learn-About-Cancer/Cancer-Support-Topics/Physical-Effects-of-Cancer/Female-Infertility

 www.livestrong.org/Get-Help/Learn-About-Cancer/Cancer-Support-Topics/Physical-Effects-of-Cancer/Male-Infertility

Basic Information:

General information              Cancer.vive is a special project of PLWC by a group of survivors who aim to create awareness of survivorship of this disease. Honouring those who have lost their battle and most importantly raise funds and awareness to fight the disease through education. Our main event is an annual countrywide motorcycle ride. The Cancer.vive ride of 2011 will have the “shy” cancers (breast, cervical, prostate and testicular) as a theme. These are the cancers that are difficult to discuss and especially in the rural areas to visited by Cancer.vive Ride of 2011. Survivors of these cancers who are able to communicate in 7 languages will reaching out and sharing with their fellow countrymen in far reaching areas of South Africa.

 

Founded                                 2011

 

About                                      Cancer survivors celebrating life through projects of awareness, education and fundraising.

 

Vision                                     Cancer.vive aims to become the most dynamic and colourful group of cancer survivors, who lead by example, in projects by celebrating life, through their hands on and personal participation in communities educating people about cancer and creating support structures and hope for cancer patients.

 

Description                             The volunteers of Cancer.vive, are cancer survivors celebrating life through projects of awareness, education and fundraising. 

The central project is an annual motor cycle ride through South Africa with cancer survivors, and friends and volunteers supporting them as the backup crew. 

We operate in affiliation with ‘People Living with Cancer’. 

We invite you to participate in this cause.

 

Mission                                   We are a group of cancer survivors, celebrating the life we have been given by showing people that there can be life after cancer; we do this through creating awareness for all types of cancers, and by raising funds for cancer education and the facilitation of cancer support groups in South Africa.

 

Email                                       Info@cancervive.co.za

 

Website                                   http://www.cancer.vive.co.za

 

Facebook                                http://www.facebook.com/cancer.vive

Twitter                                     http://twitter.com/#!/Cancervive_ride