Many people treated for cancer are worn out for a time, but new findings suggest that long-lasting fatigue may be less common than thought — at least for women with early-stage breast cancer.

The study, of 218 women treated for early breast cancer, found that almost one-third had “cancer-related fatigue” at the end of treatment. But far fewer — six percent — still had the problem a year later.

That suggests for most women with the disease post-treatment fatigue will fade with some time, the researchers report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

It’s well known that cancer patients often suffer fatigue. and some studies have concluded it’s common for that weariness to last for years after treatment ends. Among breast cancer survivors, researchers have found that more than one-third have fatigue two to three years after treatment.

The reasons, though, have not been clear. and the new findings support the idea that some cases of chronic fatigue in earlier studies may have had causes other than the cancer itself.

Past studies have often been “cross-sectional,” meaning they studied people at one time-point.

So it’s possible to catch some bouts of fatigue that are related to various causes, explained Dr. David Goldstein, who led the new study.

That could mean lingering fatigue from a viral illness, for example, or fatigue related to depression, according to Goldstein, of Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, Australia.

“There are cancer survivors with true post-cancer fatigue,” Goldstein said in an email. It’s just that the number may be “less than previously thought.”

That may be true at least with early-stage breast cancer — and possibly some other early cancers, Goldstein said — but not necessarily more-advanced cancer.

“The fatigue associated with advanced cancer is a much more complex issue — tied up with the biology of an active tumor and its many physical effects, as well as the drugs used (for treatment),” Goldstein explained.

The findings are based on 218 women who were treated for early-stage breast cancer with surgery and some type of “adjuvant” therapy, usually radiation, chemotherapy or both.

The women answered questions about their physical and psychological health every few months for a year after treatment. Overall, Goldstein’s team found, 11 percent persistently had fatigue at the six-month mark, while six percent still had symptoms a year after treatment ended.

Goldstein said the study used a questionnaire that distinguished between physical and psychological symptoms, which some past studies have not done. and women who had persistent fatigue at six months were evaluated to rule out “alternative” causes — like low thyroid hormone levels or depression.

It’s not clear why some women treated for early breast cancer remain fatigued for months or longer, according to Goldstein.

Some recent research, he noted, has hinted that some patients could have a genetic predisposition to an “exaggerated bodily response” to chemotherapy, for example.

Other work has suggested that chronic, body-wide inflammation could play a role.

As for fatigue treatment, there’s evidence that good sleep habits and regular exercise can help, if people can keep those habits up.

Based on research into chronic fatigue, a combination of exercise plus cognitive behavioral therapy might help some patients, according to Goldstein. he said he and his colleagues are currently studying that approach.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of talk therapy focused on changing the thought patterns and behaviors that seem to be feeding physical or mental symptoms.

One recent study also found that breast cancer survivors who got more omega-3 fats in their diets were less likely to have long-lasting fatigue than survivors who ate less. (See Reuters Health story of March 29, 2012)

Omega-3 fats, which are thought to fight inflammation, are largely found in oily fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna.

Those findings, though, do not prove that omega-3 directly affects the long-term risk of fatigue. and the researchers said it was too soon for cancer survivors to be taking fish oil to battle fatigue.

They noted, though, that eating fish a couple times a week — something that’s already recommended for general health — could be a good idea.

New research suggests that long-term use of any type of hormones to ease menopause symptoms can raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

It is already known that taking pills that combine estrogen and progestin – the most common type of hormone therapy – can increase breast cancer risk. but women who no longer have a uterus can take estrogen alone, which was thought to be safe and possibly even slightly beneficial in terms of cancer risk.

The new study suggests otherwise, if the pills are used for many years. it tracked the health of about 60,000 nurses and found that use of any kind of hormones for 10 years or more slightly raised the chances of developing breast cancer.“There’s a continued increase in risk with longer durations of use, and there does not appear to be a plateau,’’ said study leader Dr. Wendy Chen of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

The hormone picture has been confusing, and the absolute risk of breast cancer for any woman taking hormone pills remains small. Doctors say women should use the lowest dose needed for the shortest time possible.

“It’s hard to be surprised that if you keep taking it, sooner or later it’s going to raise risk,’’ said Dr. Robert Clarke of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The study was discussed Sunday in Chicago at a conference of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Another study presented at the conference might help explain why black women are so much more likely than whites to develop and die from cervical cancer: they seem to have more trouble clearing HPV, the virus that causes the disease.

Doctors have long thought that less access to screening and follow-up health care were the reasons black women are 40 percent more likely to develop cervical cancer and twice as likely to die from it. the new study involving young college women suggests there might be a biological explanation for the racial disparity, too.

If further study confirms this novel finding, it would make the HPV vaccine even more important for black women, said Worta McCaskill-Stevens, a prevention specialist at the National Cancer Institute. the vaccine is recommended for all girls starting at age 11.

Certain strains of HPV, the human papillomavirus, cause cervical cancer, but brief infections are very common in young women. they usually go away on their own within a year or so and only pose a cancer risk when they last long-term.

Researchers at the University of South Carolina in Columbia studied 326 white and 113 black students taking part in a wider federal health study. All were given Pap tests – lab exams of cells scraped from the cervix – and HPV tests every six months throughout their years in school.

Although the groups were similar in how many new HPV infections were detected and risk factors such as how many sex partners they had, doctors saw striking differences in how long their infections lasted.

At any checkup, black women were 1.5 times more likely to test positive for infection with one of the HPV strains that raise cancer risk, said study leader Kim Creek.

“the African-American women weren’t clearing the virus as fast,’’ he said. “they were actually holding onto it about six months longer,’’ for 18 months versus 12 months for white women. ten percent of black women had abnormal Pap tests versus 6 percent of whites.

Two years after initial infections were found, 56 percent of black women were still infected but only 24 percent of white women remained infected.

The government’s National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities sponsored the study.

Johnny Wilson spent 24 years as a Navy photographer. when he retired in 2009, he started aiming his lens at people with interesting stories to tell: combat veterans, breast cancer survivors, heart transplant patients.

But the one of the young woman with the haunting eyes and bandaged, scarred belly, clutching a mass of prescription bottles, may be his crowning achievement to date.

“I thought, ‘I’ve probably just taken the most powerful photo of my life. To see her body destroyed by lupus … ,” Wilson said, his voice trailing off. “hopefully, we get the word out.”Raising awareness about lupus is the goal of a monthlong exhibit that Wilson and the nonprofit Life Without Lupus Project will unveil Monday at Penrose Cancer Center.

The exhibit consists of 14 portraits, accompanied by hand-written statements from each subject on how the  energy-zapping, organ-attacking, often-debilitating and sometimes fatal autoimmune disease has affected their lives.(Excerpts of their statements are included withthe accompanying photos.)

Amazingly, most are able to find hope and faith amid a life filled with complex medication regimens, crushing fatigue, and any number of unpleasant and painful symptoms.

“There were times in my life when I just wanted to die,” wrote 21-year-old Alyssa Robb, the woman holding more than a half dozen bottles of pills in Wilson’s photo. “But, thanks to new faith and a new outlook on life, I now know that my trials and storms are preparing me for my eternal life.”

Wilson’s idea for the exhibit grew out of his post-military mission to photograph people with gripping stories to tell.

He gives them an 11-by-14 inch sheet of archival paper and archival ink, then creates a portrait from the stories they write. so far, he has about 40 stories on a variety of subjects.

A few years ago, he met ReNai Frisco, the founder and head of Life Without Lupus, and invited her to an exhibit he had at the Air Force Academy.

“I was telling her: ‘Here’s a way to get the lupus story out to the public,’” he said.Frisco jumped at the opportunity. her sister died of lupus at age 48, leaving behind a son whose portrait will be in the Penrose exhibit.

“I don’t think people really get the impact of Lupus,” Frisco said. “Survivors call it the ‘invisible disease,’ because you can have a decent day, but that next day can be a whole different story. these folks end up on a cycle of treating the symptoms, because there’s no known cause or cure. There are endless medications, staggering co-pays and really, no resolution.”

She started the nonprofit in 2008 to help lupus patients with their rent, food, transportation and other needs. on Saturday, she’s launching a lupus support group.

Meanwhile, Wilson hopes his photo-and-story concept will lead to coffee table books on various subjects that nonprofits can use to convey their missions and raise money. He used the example of a book that might be dedicated to photos and stories of people with breast cancer. “You’ll be able to go to a website or a bookstore, read inspiration stories on survivors of breast cancer, and learn more about it,” he said. “It’s a reference to help people.”

DID YOU KNOW?• There are several types of lupus, including one that affects the skin. But the most common is systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. It accounts for about 70 percent of all cases.• 90 percent of lupus patients are women. Women of color are two to three times more likely to develop lupus.• Lupus tends to develop in people ages 18 to 45.• Lupus organizations estimate that at least 1.5 million Americans have the disease. more than 16,000 new cases are reported annually.• 20 percent of people with lupus will have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus.• About 5 percent of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.• an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of people with lupus die prematurely from complications related to the disease.• two of three lupus patients lose some or all of their income because they are no longer able to work full time.• one in three lupus patients has been temporarily disabled by the disease; one in four receive disability payments.• Symptoms vary from person to person, and can ebb and flow in intensity and frequency. Common symptoms include joint pain and swelling, chest pain when taking a deep breath, fatigue, fever with no other cause, hair loss, mouth sores, a “butterfly” rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, numbness, tingling, seizures, vision problems, abdominal pain.Sources: Lupus Foundation of America; U.S. National Library of Medicine: U.S. Centers for Disease Control

Cadmium in diet raises breast cancer risk

Houston: Women whose diet contain higher levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, are at greater risk of developing breast cancer, a new study has claimed. the study which is published by the American Association for Cancer Research found that among 55,987 post-menopausal women, the one-third with the highest cadmium intakes were 21 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer.

Cadmium, which is identified as a carcinogen, leaches into crops from fertilizers. Whole grains, potatoes, other vegetables and shellfish are key dietary sources of cadmium, which also becomes airborne as a pollutant when fossil fuels are burned, and is inhaled as well as ingested.

Circumcision may lower prostate cancer risk

Houston: Men who have been circumcised are at lower risk of developing prostate cancer, a study published in the journal Cancer has suggested. the study, conducted by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, has found that men circumcised before their first sexual encounter have a 15 per cent lower incidence of prostate cancer. Researchers say that because circumcised men are slightly less likely to contract herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV), which previous studies have linked to a higher incidence of prostate cancer, circumcision might offer protection.

?The problem with prostate cancer studies is that a large number of cases will stay confined to the prostate, causing few, if any symptoms,? said Ron Gray, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University?s Bloomberg School of Public Health. ?Trying to find an underlying cause for that type of cancer is difficult and often pointless,? he added.

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Health bosses raise awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms

4:10pm Tuesday 6th March 2012 in News

MARCH is ovarian cancer awareness month and hospital chiefs are keen to raise awareness of the symptoms to ensure early detection and treatment.

According to statistics, 17 women in the town will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 but knowing the signs including persistent pelvic/stomach pain, increased stomach size, persistent bloating and having difficulty eating could help patients seek advice early.

Nigel Holland, gynaecological consultant at the trust, said: “If ovarian cancer is diagnosed at an early stage the outcome is good. “However, because some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague and similar to those of more common conditions, it can be difficult to diagnose.”

Women are also advised to tell their GP if there are two or more cases of ovarian or breast cancer in their close family.

Visit ovarian.org.uk.

more News stories

ANGLE’s (LON:AGL) medical diagnostics business, Parsortix, has made another important breakthrough.

Its cell separation device can capture prostate cancer cells, it was revealed today, having already been used successfully to capture cultured breast cancer cells added to human blood.

The latest results support the thesis that the device can be used to screen for any solid tumour cancers without need for modification.

If this is indeed the case, then it marks the Parsortix technology out as potentially being far more effective than the existing cancer tests, which are cancer-specific and often return false negative results.     

ANGLE founder and chief executive, Andrew Newland, said: “The successful capture and identification of prostate cancer cells added to blood further substantiates the potential for the Parsortix separation technology to become a market-leading product, which is simple, effective and affordable.”

Parsortix is the jewel in the crown of the ANGLE portfolio. its small, devilishly simple separation device has all sorts of ramifications for the way the disease is treated and monitored.

For a start it may be possible using the device to determine which treatments are working, and which are not.  

Now this promises a huge improvement in the way chemotherapy is administered. 

The device also has the potential to monitor patients in remission, and to pick up early signs of the return of the cancer, ahead of the patient experiencing any symptoms.  

The earlier the treatment, the greater the likelihood the patient will survive.

Furthermore, it may be possible to develop a simple blood test to provide routine screening of healthy people to check for early signs of cancer ahead of any symptoms.

Although still in its infancy, Parsortix technology may ultimately have the ability to identify all the hard tumour types, without knowing in advance which cancer is expected.  

This is a step on from the existing means of identifying circulating cancer cells, where the tests are specific to each cancer type and even then are not totally reliable.  

“we think ours has a much more universal application – hopefully to all solid tumours,” said Newland in a recent interview with Proactive Investors.

The company is currently in discussions with leading cancer research groups including the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester. 

The idea of this and other similar collaborations is to field test the device using blood taken from cancer patients. 

It also allows for development of the separation device and the supporting equipment in a real world setting. 

The potential clinical market is huge and is conservatively estimated by the company to be worth around US$4 billion annually in the United States alone.

However, to be sold for use in hospitals the device requires what’s called 510k approval from the all powerful US Food & Drug Administration and a CE Mark here in Europe. 

That process is likely to take a further 18 months of research, development and testing – and cost around £5 million.

Although the company is talking to potential partners, ANGLE may bankroll the development itself. 

It has options to achieve this, including the sale of one of the businesses in the company’s portfolio.

Alternatively it could fund the work by licensing selective use of the separation device to big pharmaceutical companies developing drugs for cancer as what’s called a companion diagnostic.

“that way we would get a big partner working with us, but wouldn’t give away the crown jewels,” Newland said.

“there is the potential to take the separation device rapidly into the research sales market as this does not require regulatory approval and that is our first target.” 

ANGLE owns 90 per cent of Parsortix.

By Suzy Cohen Columnist Published: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, October 31, 2011 at 2:22 p.m.

Q: I met you at a book signing, and didn’t want to hold up the line to elaborate on my health concerns. you said I should not be taking “unopposed estrogen,” and I don’t know what that means. if you recall, I’m post-menopausal, I had a hysterectomy, and my doctor prescribes estradiol tablets.

L.Y., Baltimore

A: I do recall saying that. It scares me that millions of women are taking unopposed estrogen medications (meaning, estrogen therapy without any natural progesterone to go with it). Excess estrogen has been linked to breast cancer and other hormonally-driven disorders.

Natural progesterone balances estrogen and is sold without prescription at health food stores, as a skin cream. I feel strongly that no woman should EVER be taking unopposed estrogen meds, even if she has had her uterus removed. Of course, everyone reading this should get physician approval to use progesterone, because my opinion columns are intended for educational purposes, not advice.

Sadly, some physicians insist that women who do not have a uterus (i.e. hysterectomy) no longer need progesterone, so they only prescribe estrogen drugs. this is short-sighted because there are progesterone receptors all over the body, not just in the reproductive organs. so even if you have your uterus removed, other organs are left starving for progesterone. It supports healthy bones, breasts, heart, liver and brain tissue in both men and women. Progesterone protects the breasts, and may relieve fibrocystic breast pain and reduce the risk of breast cancer, studies prove. this hormone may improve sleep, anxiety and cholesterol levels. Remarkably, progesterone feeds the brain, and a new study points to its benefit during the first few hours after a stroke.

Natural progesterone is not the same thing as progestin drugs like methoxyprogesterone, which is sold by prescription.

The medications are not bio-identical to what your body makes, and there are no receptor sites on your cells that exactly match the drugs.

Because synthetic drugs are not bio-identical, there is a higher risk of side effects. your local pharmacist can explain more. What you learn about progestin drugs does not at all apply to bio-identical, natural progesterone hormone.

When you take unopposed estrogen, you could tilt yourself, hormonally-speaking, and wind up with excess estrogen, a condition termed “estrogen dominance” or “progesterone deficiency.” Symptoms in post-menopausal women include anxiety, depression, irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, insomnia, bone loss or low sex drive. in pre-menopausal women, you might expect PMS, breast tenderness, migraines, fibroids, mood swings, bloating, or heavy periods. using progesterone cream properly is critical. Application depends on your age and menstrual cycle.

It’s too complicated to get into here. I’ve explained progesterone usage, and outlined other natural ways to support hormone health in my ebook, “Breast/Prostate Cancer Protection” sold at my website.

Did you know?

A new study suggests that drinking three cups of regular coffee per day may reduce risk of basal skin carcinoma by up to 20 percent.

For more information, visit DearPharmacist.com.

Pancreatic Cancer is unimaginably horrid. My sister-in-law was dx Jan 31, 08. Stage IV, DVT complications, has stent,
2nd tx of chemo this week, at home, taking oral morphine, not eating, fatigue, very weak, can only take a few steps before tiring, sleeps most of day, not interest in talking, …..this discribes what I observe. It's freightening. can you share what to expect in the final days? Heart felt thanks, cc

I'm very sorry. I do not know what the chances of surviving stage IV Pancreatic Cancer is, but I know my husband had stage IV Lymphoma and my Aunt is in the final stages of breast cancer. in general, I think the final days of having cancer are all about the same. Some start to have night sweats and run low fevers at night and I once heard from a nursing homes that they knew a patient was in their final days once their earlobes folded up and had a crease in them. I know a family friend had this happen about 3 days before he passed, so it may be accurate. Fatigue and weaknes are also obvious signs, but those are also side affects of chemo (my husband was VERY tired and weak and was on high doses of chemo…he slept for days at a time). There is always a chance of recovery…no matter how small.
Let her know that you care about her and you are here. I pray that everything will be okay and that she will be in peace, if nothing else.

If you take a good look around, you may discover quite a bit written on treating bladder infections. The thing about so much of this is there are conditions that will have an influence on what you can expect to use. The thing about it is that you have to think about associated topics that may have a direct bearing on you. The maddening part about it is you could find out you have to perform even more research. Assembling the big picture for any subject is often not simple or fast with online research. Well, we have done our exploration into treating bladder infections, and we believe it will be of good use for you.

You may suffer from breast cancer for years without knowing it because you did not recognize its early symptoms. This is bad for your prognosis because it can allow the disease to progress to levels that it needn’t have gotten to… and without treatment too. Even though we all really want to catch these types of indicators early enough; it is without a doubt also significant that you pay a visit to your personal doctor as soon as you are dealing with bladder infection symptoms since this can be a warning of some thing even bigger to come.

Often, the symptom that most people identify the most with breast cancer it the lump in their breast. however, this symptom also features strongly in various other conditions, some of which are not medical. So next you feel as though there is a lump in your breast, you may want to look for other symptoms before you yell blue murder. nearly all people who begin to observe signs of bladder infection problems or possibly every other issue will often come to the web in search of points plus counsel that they will be able to make use of.

You know your breast grows bigger as you approach your menses, don’t you? No, it does not meant that you have breast cancer, to that you are about to. The actual symptoms of breast cancer may not be so easily deciphered unless you know what to look for. I suggest you learn about them already so that you can.

A number of non-cancerous changes in your breast can be mistaken for breast cancer symptoms, but would be false alarms when examined by a doctor. however, this is no reason for you to be less vigilant. Make no mistake, the disease is a killer. you will do well always to go and see the doctor for better analyses. better safe than sorry.

Has what you have found added to your prior knowledge? There is a great deal within the body of information surrounding bladder infection symptoms. you can find there is much in common with topical areas directly resembling this one.

You never really know about any one element because there are a lot of diverse situations. So what we advise is to really try to discover what you need, and that will usually be determined by your circumstances.

It was our main goal to give you a short introduction to bladder infection symptoms, and allow you to see directly what can be achieved. There are other areas that can be learned that will enhance the information that is generally available. what we will do is go into much deeper are more subtle points that will give you a greater comprehension and more advantage. you will find it to be very helpful in so many ways, and some of it is very distinct to your particular needs.

Find Out About Treating Bladder Infections and Signs Of Bladder Infection Problems

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Fewer older cancer patients are given treatment with the decline starting at the age of 50 (Posed by models)

Elderly people are being denied cancer surgery because NHS doctors are reluctant to operate on them, according to a study.

It found the number of people treated for breast cancer falls by a third over the age of 60.

Meanwhile only two per cent of patients over the age of 80 have surgery for six of the top 13 cancers.

Researchers said workers in the NHS often believed performing surgery on elderly patients was inappropriate and said this attitude was one of the key reasons for the decline in operations.

The biggest drop in operations is seen in the over-7ps but the study found a decline across all forms of cancer treatment is evident from the age of 50.

Dr Mick Peake, lead clinician at the National Cancer Intelligence Network which carried out the study said: ‘While this isn’t intrinsically surprising, the drop in some cancers begins in age groups as young as the 50s. this is a cause for concern.

‘And, crucially, it raises questions about the underlying reasons for these variations and, in turn, what can be done to reduce them.

‘Inevitably, there may be reasons for variations by age and geography that are not directly related to the quality of care in our hospitals.

‘Such reasons may include the stage of the disease at diagnosis, late presentation by patients with symptoms, patients – especially older ones – choosing not to have surgery, different numbers of patients with other illnesses which mean surgery would be ill-advised.

‘But because complete data on these factors is not available, the report can’t attribute any of the variation to them, highlighting the importance of NCIN’s ongoing work in improving the information collected about cancer patients.

‘Despite all these caveats, the new facts and figures suggest that some parts of the country may have different rates compared to other regions.

‘This report provides the basis for further analyses to try and understand what the underlying causes of these differences are.

Dr Mick Peake: ‘While this isn?t intrinsically surprising, the drop in some cancers begins in age groups as young as the 50s. this is a cause for concern.’

‘This is a good basis for cancer networks to examine why they might have lower surgery rates than their neighbours. so publishing this type of analysis could actually help to make things better.’

The study found that ‘There was evidence of small but significant decreases in the proportion of patients receiving a major resection (organ or tumour removal) in the more deprived socio-economic groups and also of variation in surgical rates between cancer networks.’

Less than 16 per cent of people with cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, bladder, prostate, lung, pancreas and liver had a record of a major resection. with liver cancer only six per cent had surgery before a drop to two per cent for all of these cancers for the over 80s.

Over the age of 40 and until someone reaches 80 the drop in the number of people receiving surgery for cancer of the ovaries was 56 per cent, kidney 49 per cent and cervical 48 per cent.

The difference between the number of patients from poor areas being treated compared to the more affluent was surprisingly narrow with the largest difference being cervical cancer – 10 per cent. however this did not take into account treatment in the private sector.