Touch Lines May 2011 - Cancer Support France Newsletter

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TouchlinesThe Newsletter of Cancer Support France — Association N° W163000037

Patron: Prof. Alain Daban Consultant, service oncologie Radiothérapique du CHU Poitiers; Président du Reseau Onco Poitou Char entes

Volume 7 Issue 3 May 2011

Imprimé par nos soins

In this issue

The Réseau Onco-

Poitou-Charentes

P. 2-3

CSF National AGM2011

P. 3-4

Professeur Alain Da-

ban

P. 4

Around the Regions P. 5-9

New Badge P. 9

The Treasurer’s Spot 10

News Round-Up P. 10

Translation Project

Update

P. 11

Useful Information P. 12

Hail and Farewell

I am pleased to be able to welcome Margaret York (Dordogne

Est & Lot) as the new Editor of Touchlines. Following my last

(despairing?) appeal for a successor, Margaret kindly volunteered

to take on this responsibility.

This is my chance to express my thanks to all those who have

supported me over the past several years. I am sure that Margaret

will receive the same assistance, and that this publication will go

from strength to strength under her supervision.

Andy Shepherd

Thank you

Thank you Andy for your introduction and accepting my offer

to take on the Editorship of this essential publication for all CSF

Associations and other readers. I hope I will be able to continue

what you have looked after so well for so long.

It’s not my intention to make any changes but I’m sure that

over time, changes will eventually be made and I welcome input

from everyone.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you Andy for all

the hard work you have undertaken to produce and improve

Touchlines over the years.

Margaret York

Dordogne Est & Lot

Advertising in Touchlines

If there is anyone who you think would like to place a suitable

advertisement on a regular basis, please let me know at

[email protected]. There is a small charge of 10 € per

edition which goes towards the cost of producing Touchlines. Andywill invoice participating advertisers.



Touchlines

The Reseau Onco-Poitou-Charentes

5th

Annual Day of the Reseau Onco-Poitou-Charentes

7th

April 2011 at Niort

Every year the Réseau (ROPC) organises a

meeting which is both informative and includes the

AGM. As a member of ROPC, we do try to participatewhen the venue is within reasonable distance. This

year it was held in Niort, within the area of our Deux-

Sevres Association. The theme of the meeting was

cancer support within oncology. As such, it was an

attempt to address the theme of 'Life During and After

Cancer' in the Plan Cancer 2009-2013.( p 106ff) of the

report.

The following themes were adressed: -

1. The place of patient support within cancerology2. Evaluation of the 'Dispositif d'annonce' (The

recommended procedures for informing a patient

of their diagnosis)

3. Fatigue and Cancer

4. Sexual troubles and Cancer (The male perspective)

5. Mucositis following chemotherapy and

radiotherapy – its prevention and cure

6. Complementary medicine

The presentations accompanying each report

will be available on the Reseau's website shortly:

www.onco-poitou-charentes.fr you will need to look

for the tab entitled: Journée Annuelle du Réseau in the

menu on the left-hand side of the screen. Last years'

reports are currently still there.

Although it was a very long and tiring afternoon

and evening, it was well worth the effort of going. Each

presentation was illuminating as well as thought

provoking. Space and time do not permit a full

summary of each talk at this stage. I will do this and

circulate it to Associations shortly.

For me the great highlights were: -

1. The opportunity of enabling one of our

Associations to be involved in sharing information

about CSF. The stand in the lobby drew a lot of

interest, and new contacts were made, as well as

old ones re-established. As a result we are looking

forward to having reciprocal website links with

Vivre Comme Avant , an association that visits

breast cancer patients in hospital and provides

information about how to look after themselves

following breast cancer surgery. Denise Audidier

always tries to direct English-speaking patients she

visits towards CSF.

2. A new contact was made with La Roche Posay ,

and we learned about their new thermal spa

treatment for cancer patients which is going to be

supported by CPAM. We hope to arrange a visit to

find out more about the treatment available whichis designed to improve skin care.

3. The presentations about the use complementary

therapies, including the use of hypnotherapy in

children's treatment was absolutely inspiring.

These are special projects happening within the

Réseau's catchment area. The importance of

proper training and recognition of qualifications

was, as you would expect, emphasised as these

treaments are being used in hospital

environments.

The day ended with the Annual General Meeting

of the Réseau. By this stage of the proceedings, I am

afraid my brain had just about given up! I think our

AGM meetings are more interesting, and easier to

follow, but then we do have fewer grand and

expensive projects to keep an eye on! Our Treasurer

should heave a sigh of relief that the funding we

handle is so small in comparison.

I have all the information on a USB key which

every delegate was given, so should there be thingsthat ought to be shared, I will do so – in due course!

It was lovely to see our Patron again, and meet

up with his colleagues who always take such a keen

interest in what we do. I had the sense that our

presence was greatly appreciated.

At Reseau in Niort - Thelma Bell (Deux Sèvres)

talking to a delegate; Behind Thelma is

June Searchfield, President Deux Sevres

http://www.onco-poitou-charentes.fr/





Volume 7 Issue 3

I'd like to thank the Deux-Sèvres team for supporting

this event in such numbers. It made a wonderful

change to have company at an event such as this.

Linda Shepherd

CSF National AGM 2011

The Annual General Meeting of CSF (National)

was held at Benest (16) on Thursday 17th March, at

11h00. Five individual members were present, together

with representatives from 7 Affiliated Associations and

two guests – a total of 25 people. Eleven apologies

were received for absence.

The Minutes of the previous AGM, having been

circulated in advance, were approved by the meeting

and signed by the President, who then presented her

report on the previous year’s activities. She highlightedthe considerable success that had been made in

adapting to the new structure of the Association, in

particular the use of Skype conferencing to hold

Committee meetings, and thanked all the members of

the Committee for their help in achieving this progress.

This was symptomatic of the increasing level of

cooperation between the Associations in many areas,

which had reduced considerably the burden that had

formerly been carried by just a few individuals. She

mentioned a number of examples of this, including the

work that had been undertaken on the translationproject.

Links with INCa and La Ligue had also been

further developed, with visits to conferences and

meetings with individuals from these organisations.

Work in this area would continue in the coming year.

Similarly, regular contact was maintained with the

Reseau Onco—Poitou-Charentes.

The annual survey of the CSF network had

produced a 100% response, and revealed thatnationally there were now over 600 members. Many

more clients had been helped during the past twelve

months, with support given, varying from a simple

reply to a request for information to long-term support

by Active Listeners. A full analysis of the information

was available for inspection; in the coming months the

reporting procedure is to be reviewed and (hopefully)

simplified.

Unfortunately, CSF Rhône-Alpes had ceased to

operate and was being dissolved, but a newAssociation (CSF Lyons) was in the process of

formation.

Additionally, a number of Associations had

established satellite groups which might eventually

give rise to new Associations.

The Treasurer reported that the finances of CSF

(National) were now in a much healthier state than he

had forecast at the last meeting. This was attributable

to the unexpected success of the Awareness Week heldin September, which had raised over 5000€, and to the

reduction in printing costs for Touchlines (thanks to the

generosity of CSF Deux-Sèvres in funding it, and Ivan

Holliday in undertaking the printing and distribution).

Consequently, CSF (National) would not need to

engage in any fund-raising activities during 2011,

affiliation fees could remain at the same level, and CSF

Awareness Week in September could focus on raising

the profile of the CSF Network.

Both reports having been adopted by the

members present, elections were held for the Officers

and Committee. These were conducted by secret ballot

and the candidates listed were returned unopposed:

President – Linda Shepherd; Treasurer – Andy

Shepherd; Secretary – Jane Thomas. Committee: Tony

Benstead (Dordogne-Sud), Diana Healey (Vendée),

Gary Healey (Vendée – to be Assistant Treasurer), Ivan

Holliday (Deux-Sèvres), Richard Mozley (Riberac), Hazel

Turner (Sud de France), Margaret York (Dordogne Est &

Lot)

There being no other business, the meeting

closed at 12h55. After lunch, our new Webmaster, Alex

Overton, gave an informative presentation on the

proposals for the redesign of the website. A number of

suggestions were made by those present, which will be

taken into account before the final version is released.

Andy Shepherd

Our Patron

For those who have not met him, this is our

Patron, professor Alain Daban.



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Photos from the 2011 AGM

Representatives of the 2011 National Committee: -

Back row: Gary & Diana Healey (Vendée), Richard Mozley (Riberac),

Tony Benstead (Dordogne Sud),

Margaret York (Dordogne Est & Lot), Ivan Holliday (Deux-Sèvres).

Front row: Jane Thomas (National Secretary), Linda Shepherd,

(National President) and Andy Shepherd (National Treasurer)

Listening to a presentation at our recent AGM 2011

Left to right (Back): -

Susanne Byrne (Dordogne Est & Lot), Margaret York (Dordogne Est

& Lot), Roberta Coe (Gascony), Tony Benstead Dordogne Sud)

Left to right (Front): -

Ivan Holliday (Deux-Sèvres), Alex Overton (Webmaster), Jenny Har-

field (Deux-Sèvres)

Lunch at the ‘Treasurer’s table’

Left to right: -

Alex Overton (Webmaster), Richard Mozley, Gary Healey, Andy

Shepherd



Around the Regions

CSF Cœur de France Friday 4

thFebruary was World Cancer Day and

we were invited by Dr Maakaroun at the Centre Hos-

pitalier Jacques Cœur in Bourges to take part in a fo-

rum at the hospital to mark the occasion. Although it

was very short notice our intrepid team of Sue,

Amanda, Roger and Edith went along with our stand

and gave out leaflets and information. Once again

our fabulous banner played an important part for us.

It was an excellent opportunity to integrate with

various French cancer organisations, such as La Ligue

contre la cancer, ABIDEC and ADOC 18 - Dépistage

des cancers, and good contacts were made which will

be followed up in the future. Many of the Doctors

and Consultants at the hospital are now aware of our

existence and several of them who spoke to our

team said it was the first they had heard of Cancer

Support France. The local paper followed up the day

with a large article and gave special mention of us

with all our contact details so it was a very worth-

while day.

Once again, we have had a very quiet winter

although we continue to support one client within

our area. Our awareness campaign is ongoing and

again, we are planning to have a stand at a brocante

in each of the 3 departments we cover. We are wid-

ening our net this year and hope to go to Vichy (the

extreme east of our area) to ensure that people

there know of our existence.

We held our second ‘Pub Quiz’ in February

which again was very well attended and hosted by

our excellent Quiz Mistress Trisha. Good fun was had

by all. Our forthcoming events for this year include

another fishing competition, our annual garden partyand our AGM in May.

After the very sad death in December of our

President, Bob Grove, Jean Whitehead has taken

over as President and Amanda Busby is our Treas-

urer, I continue as Secretary. Once again we have

been very touched by the support we have been

given by our very loyal members and friends. As

there is not a huge ex-pat population here we are

very aware that we constantly call on the same peo-

ple to attend our events and we are extremely grate-ful for their continuing support.

We are always looking for new members so if

anyone who lives in our area (departments 03, 18

and 58) would like to join us please do get in touch.

Email [email protected] or phone 04 70 67 94 87.

Teresa Cox - Secretary – CSF Cœur de France

CSF Deux-Sèvres June, our President, received invitations from

Corinne Heurtebise (Secretary du comité des Deux-

Sèvres La Ligue) and Aissata Magassa (Co-Ordinator

du comité 79 Ligue Contre le Cancer) to attend a

Présentation des Recherches on Thursday 24thMarch at St. Varent; seven of the team attended.

The hall was packed and the evening was introduced

by Mme Micheline Deslebin, who is President of Deux

Sèvres La Ligue. Mme Deslebin talked about the

work of La Ligue and how it helps finance some of

the research into different cancers covered by the

Departement de Grande Ouest.

Mme Deslebin introduced the first speaker,

Nicolas Bourmeyster, from Poitiers, who talked about

cancer in general, its treatments and how theresearch system works in France. He was followed by

Marc Gregoire, a researcher who specialises in

Leukaemia. M. Gregoire gave a talk on the progress

of the research into this type of cancer. Mme

Deslebin then introduced the third speaker -

Professor Olivier Delattre from the Institute Curie,

whose speciality is Ewing’s Sarcoma, which is a

cancer that lies dormant in the bones and attacks

during puberty; there is no known cure. The fourth

speaker, Corinne Chadeau from Poitiers explained

how, in the laboratory, they cultivate cancer cells tostudy how the cells multiply and invade. She was

Volume 7 Issue 3

mailto:[email protected]





Touchlines

also from Poitiers, who specialises in cancers in the

brain. They investigate migration and ask how it

happens and why.

The final speaker was Mme Sandrine Ruchaudfrom Station Biologique de Roscoff. She explained that

within the body 100,000,000,000 cells die and are

renewing constantly.

Her research covers immuno deficiencies and

degenerative diseases, in particular, the division of cells

and the segregation of chromosomes. Each researcher

was presented with a cheque from La Ligue, the total

figure being €84,000. As the researchers said, without

the financial support of La Ligue they could not do the

amount of research needed. It is used to fundequipment in laboratories i.e. microscopes etc., and in

some instances, actually funds the work of a

researcher.

We have several fluent French speakers in the

team but for most of us, it was an evening of intense

concentration in order to follow what was being said.

It was very informative, if a bit technical. We were

delighted to have been invited and also for being given

the opportunity to establish good relations with Deux-

Sèvres La Ligue.

Thelma Bell (Publicity)

The accompanying photograph shows: -

Mme Micheline Deslebin (President Deux Sèvres La Ligue), Mm

Marylene Auger (member of Thouar Branch of La Ligue), June

Searchfield (President Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres), Kate Revaud

(member and librarian for Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres).

CSF Dordogne Est & Lot

In January 2011, we held our AGM when all

previous committee members with the exception of

one who stood down, were re-elected; a very pleasing

result which allows the team to continue to develop

our Association.

S

Some of our 2011 Committee Members

Back Left to Right: -

Susanne Byrne (treasurer), Margaret York (President), MalcolmByrne (Vice-President & Secretary), Elizabeth Holleis (Active

Listener/Training Co-ordinator)

Front Left to Right: -

Judy Evans, Tish Gowing, Jane Montandon (Membership Secretary)

Missing from the photo are: -

Trevor Cartwright, Shirley Thomas, Di Thornalley, Julia Hall (Public

Relations/Events Co-ordinator)

We are currently in the process of establishing

one or two satellite groups in the north and north east

of our area to help facilitate better coverage of our

area which has an approximate perimeter of some839km. Developing this facet will allow us to cover

Figeac, Brive, Limoges and when necessary, Pèrigueux

hospitals as well as Toulouse, Gourdon and

Montauban. Thank you to Bobby Coe, Gascony, for her

recent input.

In February, we held a rugby dinner “An

Evening With…” held at Le Chapeau Melon in Souillac.

We had two professional rugby players from C. A. Brive

rugby club; England International, Jamie Noon and

Welsh International, Alex Popham. Jamie and Alex

answered after-dinner questions and donated signed



clothing for our raffle with Brive rugby donating a

rugby signed by the team. This event was about

raising awareness of CSF in this particular area of

our coverage and resulted in two people expressing

an interest in our satellite group programme. Wealso focused on male cancers which proved to be a

worthwhile exercise.

Top Table

Left to right: -

Keith Charge (Brive Rugby), Susanne Byrne (Our Treasurer)

Alex Popham, Margaret York (Our President), Jamie Noon, JuliaHall (Our PR Co-ordinator and organiser of this event)

Winner of the principle prize—a signed rugby ball

kindly donated by C.A. Brive rugby club

For 2011, we are in the process of organising

a vide-grenier and book sale in June and a golf day

for the National Awareness Week in September

Margaret York

Dordogne Sud

Our AGM took place on 14th

February and

was a welcome opportunity to look back on a most

successful year and to look forward to developing

our support and services to the community during

the coming year.

In the relaxed atmosphere of ‘friends with a

purpose’, the meeting was chaired admirably on

this occasion by Sue Murphy, as Tony had an urgent

return to the UK, and the ‘serious’ agenda items

were accompanied by some excellent, enlightening

and useful discussions, more of which will come

later!

The President’s Report reviewed our progress

with fundraising, and the new developments intraining for Active Listeners. It has been encourag-

ing to find that not only have we successfully run

courses for our own area but also for other

Associations and the revised materials have acted

as valuable refresher courses for most of our

current Active Listeners. We are hoping to build on

this during the coming year to support with more

‘continuing’ or on-going training as this has

obviously been appreciated by current Active

Listeners.

Growing links, both with health authorities

and other cancer organisations, are producing

important collaborations with translations of

documents, availability of home support and

palliative care and with the inclusion of local data

for greater accuracy in national statistics.

Our part in this during the coming year will be

to further increase publicity in our local newspa-

pers, clinics, surgeries, hospitals, libraries - any

public areas in fact - to increase awareness in thecommunity and to discover more Active Listeners

and encourage membership.

We are also offering support financially and

advisory to the formation of any new Associations.

As a community service, we are planning small

intimate gatherings to present information about the

most common forms of cancer, where discussion and

those questions which are often difficult to ask will be

possible. Sue Murphy will be a main player in this

planned expansion and we look forward to supporting

her expertise on these occasions.

Volume 7 Issue 3



Touchlines

On y va!

Stephen Murphy has been our Treasurer for the

last two years, but we have welcomed Peter Wells as

his replacement; many thanks Stephen. We welcomed

Sue Pett as our new Meetings Secretary and

acknowledged the continuing tireless hard work of

Angela Benstead in fund raising and taking on the roleof Membership Secretary.

These subtle changes in responsibilities should

allow Sue Murphy to develop her role in Training both

for our Association and at Area level.

Caring for the Carers

Returning to one of our most interesting areas of

discussion we considered the enormous importance of

what our Active Listeners provide and at what cost thismight be to them personally. Anyone who has listened

to a friend in trouble or a child with ‘problems’ at the

end of a telephone will be familiar with the process of

‘un-burdening’ and how it may leave the listener

feeling emotionally drained and at ‘rock bottom ‘

themselves. You carry this ‘burden,’ in my personal

experience with my children, for some considerable

time, only to find, usually, they ring you back and say

they feel ‘much better now’ and everything is fine!!

Well, of course, in the case of our Active Listeners,

dealing with people possibly at the darkest time of their lives, there will never be the call that restores

everything to ‘normal’, but the question of supporting

the Active Listener coping with the burden of the

emotional repercussions of their role is a very real

one, and one which it is vital we acknowledge clearly

and support effectively. Every Association should be

aware of the personal ‘cost’ to the Active Listener and

have mechanisms in place, both official, and ‘unofficial’

perhaps, to ensure even the most ‘positive’

personalities are not swamped by giving of themselves

so generously.

I know that in our Association, the most

professional leadership of our President and Secretary

have this area of concern as one of their highest

priorities but, as we expand our support across our

area and to widening communities it is not something

that can be left to chance, or some key members taking

on more and more ‘duties’, so, in hope, it is worth

airing on this ‘platform’!

Finally, just a reminder-

Angela has a new consignment of her beautiful

greetings cards and gift wrapping for all your

congratulations and felicitations this year.

Please get in touch for all your needs!

Frances Nunn

CSF Languedoc

LAUNCHING DROP-IN DAYS

THE TEAM

From left to right:

Sara Bowles, vice-president and publicity co-ordinator; Alison Kane,

co-ordinator for drop in days; Pauline O’Shea, fundraising co -

ordinator; Adrienne Kester, secretary; Trish Walker, vice-secretary;

Cat Hartley, president; Stephen Hartley, treasurer.

Just over a year after the launch of CSF in the

Languedoc region, and with a substantial amount of

training and fundraising under our belt, an army of

loyal members and helpers plus a steadily growing

number of clients, we decided the time was ripe tobroaden the scope of the services we offer. Already

helping our clients with emotional support,

information assistance and translation services, we felt

we needed to branch out into the other area of our

work that we have always regarded as a priority -

offering to our clients and also our hard-working

members, a regular opportunity to have fun, to relax

and to socialise together. It was then that our

president, Cat Hartley, came up with the idea of

running monthly drop-in sessions, open to anyone

whose life is touched by cancer, regardless of nationality and also to our members.



Volume 7 Issue 3

Many members grasped this opportunity for us

to offer help without necessarily having to wait for

clients to make contact but we were all agreed that if

we were to do this, we had to do it very well or not at

all! There have been many obstacles to overcome or

circumnavigate, the main one being finding suitable

accommodation.

This needed to be central to our area, affordable

and above all welcoming and attractive, so that visitors

felt they were coming to something quite special. The

search for this could itself form the basis for a lengthy

article but we are happy to say that very suitable

premises were found in a converted wine cave; light,

spacious and full of character. It’s not ideal - whatever

is? However, with hard work and resourcefulness we

know we can get around a few snags.

The next stage has been to decide what we will

be able to offer. Since we have no idea how many

people to expect, what they will be looking for or how

they will respond to what is on offer, we have decided

to keep the first few of the monthly sessions as simple

as possible. The sessions will last for about five hours

and visitors can come for the full session or pop-in for a

shorter period. There will be comfortable seating, a

small (to begin with) range of craft and other activities,

some “pampering” sessions and good quality, healthy

refreshments and snacks. There will also be theopportunity for visitors to receive listening support in a

more private area.

So at the moment, we are at the stage of “all

systems go” for the first session at the end of April with

helpers planning the activities, gathering craft

materials together, choosing refreshments and

deciding how best to publicise what’s on offer to the

people who most need it. There remains some head

scratching over how many “droppers-in” we can expect

and how we can best meet their needs but above all,there is a great air of excitement at the prospect of

moving on to the next stage of our development.

Trish Walker (Vice-secretary)

CSF Vendée

Yes, the situation in the Vendée is in good shape.

Following several changes of membership and the

appointment of new officers including a new president,

David Martin, we have seen encouragingdevelopments.

Although several members have moved on, our

number remains constant. For continuity it is especially

good that we have the same Secretary and Treasurer.

We have forged and strengthened links, not only

with hospitals in the Vendée but now have an excellent

relationship with La Ligue Contre Le Cancer. ThePresident has had successful meetings with the

hospital administrations who have been very helpful,

and encouraging of the work of Cancer Support.

“Friends of Cancer Support Vendée” has been set up

this year. These Friends help not only by contributing

financially but are invited to participate in our Annual

General Meetings. They receive the Newsletter which

contains up-to-date information about CSV, and are

invited to our fundraising events.

This year we shall target ‘Awareness’ as opposedto significant fundraising. We are always conscious of

an ever greater need to ensure people know of our

existence - although “word of mouth” does seem to be

the most effective way to publicise CSV.

One of the social events we are planning this

year is a good old fashioned Whist and Beetle Drive

which we hope will prove successful for awareness as

well as having some fun.

A Cricket Tea is also in the planning stage and if we can get willing participants we hope to finish the

day with a Ladies v. Gents “Rounders” competition.

Shall keep you posted!

Peter Somerville,

Vice President, Cancer Support Vendée

New Badge

Linda has been working with a company to

produce an embroidered badge which can be attached

to clothing etc.



Touchlines

The Treasurer’s Spot

At the recent AGM I was pleased to be able to

report a healthy financial situation for CSF (National)

and also for the whole CSF network. My thanks go to

all the treasurers who helped by submitting the annual

returns on time. In presenting the budget for 2011, I

was also able to say that there would be no need for

CSF (National) to undertake substantial fund-raising

during the year.

Income and expenditure for the first quarter of

this year has been broadly in line with expectations. All

Affiliated Associations have paid their subscriptions on

time, for which I am also grateful. Present indications

are that we are well-placed to undertake all our

commitments and plans for the next 18 months.

I am pleased to welcome Gary Healey onto theCommittee. He will be acting as Assistant Treasurer this

year, prior to taking over my role next March; we are

already making progress on the changes that will be

needed to administrative procedures. This year will

also see a revision of our financial policy – long

overdue – to make it less complicated and more

transparent. I would also like to express my thanks to

Richard Mozley (CSF Riberac) for his continuing support

and advice.

Andy Shepherd

News Round-Up

Research published in “Nature Genetics” has

identified three groups of mutations which cause acute

myeloid leukaemia, which affects 2000 people in the

UK each year. During the illness, immature white

blood cells are produced which are unable to fight

infection; the disease can be fatal within weeks if not

treated.

The most common mutation is to the Npm 1

gene which promotes cell renewal but in trials on mice

only one third of subjects where this gene had been

triggered went on to develop the disease. By using

insertional mutagenesis to produce random mutations,

researchers were able to identify two other genes –

one affecting cell division and growth and the other

which modifies the cell’s environment. It is hoped that

this will lead to the development of drugs to reverse

the process of cancer development. [Vasiliou, Cooper

et al (2011) Nature Genetics, doi:10.1038/ng.796].

Blocking the enzyme LOXL2 has been shown to

prevent metastasis of breast cancer in mice, according

to research published in Cancer Research. 90% of

cancer deaths are due to tumours migrating around

the body, and this enzyme is implicated in the early

stages of metastasis. The results offer a path to thedevelopment of new drugs, and also to the establish-

ment of tests to predict the likelihood of cancer

spreading. [BBC News, 22 Feb 2011].

Finnish scientists have established a link

between the decline in sperm quality and the rise in

testicular cancers. Their findings suggest that

environmental factors, particularly exposure to

industrial chemicals, may be behind both trends.

[Jorgensen, Vierula et al (2011), International Journal

of Andrology , 34, doi:10.111/j.1365.2605.2010.0133.x].

Cancer Research UK figures show that lung

cancer rates have more than doubled for women over

60 since 1975, whilst lung cancers in men fell.

However, rates amongst women in their 40s have

fallen between 1975 & 2008 (the latest year for which

statistics are available). [BBC News, 7 Mar 2011].

Meanwhile, a French medical team at Bobigny

Hospital, have successfully treated a patient by excising

a serious tumour and replacing the bronchus with areconstituted aorta. The procedure has been

developed over ten years; the 78 year old patient is

said to be fit and well some 16 months after the

surgery which avoided the complete removal of a lung.

[BBC News, 3 Mar 2011].

UK bowel cancer rates for people in their 60s

have jumped by 12%. Cancer Research UK says that his

is a sign that more tumours are being detected as the

result of screening. Early detection of the third most

common cancer in the UK makes a huge difference to

survival rates – up to 90% of patients survive for five

years, compared to 5% for more advanced tumours.

[BBC News, 23 Mar 2011]. There are now hopes for

the development of an early, DNA-based test for the

disease, a Cambridge study has suggested. Looking at

DNA methylation patterns (a key process in cell

development) scientists have identified a possible

means of detecting the transition of benign polyps to

cancerous tissue. [Ibrahim, Arends et al (2011), Gut , 60;

499-508: doi:10.1136/gut.2010.223602].

A J Shepherd



Volume 7 Issue 3

Translation Project Update

CSF-National and CSF-Charente plus have been

busy securing translation rights from INCa (Institute

national de Cancer) and La Ligue Contre le Cancer.

With the help of our Patron, Professeur Daban and the

team at the Reseau Onco-Poitou Charente these

permissions have now been received. We have anumber of excellent French documents in progress: -

1. Demarches Sociales et Cancer (Cancer and

Welfare Services) – part of the Cancerinfo Guides series

published by INCa. Several volunteers from CSF Sud de

France have been involved in translating the chapters.

The text of the book has now been completed,

illustrations added and the pages formatted. It is now

with the first of our proof readers to ensure a harmonic

use of English throughout. This volume provides a

detailed guide to all the available social supportstructures and administrative procedures that need to

be followed, from diagnosis to death.

2. Traitements du cancer et chute des cheveux

(Cancer treatment and hair loss) This little booklet

explains why hair loss can happen, how it can be

minimised and how to cope with it, from wigs to

scarves.

3. Vivre pendant et apres un cancer (Living with

and after cancer)

4. Douleur et Cancer (Pain and cancer). A large

part of this work has been done, but it is on hold,pending revisions to the text by INCa. We should know

soon when we can complete this work.

All the booklets in this series aim to provide up

to date and well researched information about cancer

and its treatment here in France.

This link will give you a list of what is available in

French: - http://www.e-cancer.fr/expertises-

publications-de-l-inca/guides-cancer-info-pour-les-

patients Some of the guides can be downloaded freeof charge.

Our next step, once current work is completed

will be to review what is available in French and reflect

on what would be of value in English. Do let us know if

you have come across a national French publication

which you feel would be worth looking at.

Once the documents are finished, they will be

diffused via each Association, our website and the

French websites of INCa and La Ligue. Charente Plus

will be arranging print runs for some of their

translations so that they can be placed into ERI centres.

This work is a direct result of the survey and report we

published in 2009/10 'Language Support for

Anglophone patient Survey'.

Linda Shepherd

French booklets currently under translation

http://www.e-cancer.fr/expertises-publications-de-l-inca/guides-cancer-info-pour-les-patients









Touchlines

Useful InformationUseful Information

Useful Contacts

President: Linda Shepherd 05 45 29 08 93

[email protected]

Treasurer: Andy Shepherd 05 45 29 08 93

[email protected]

Secretary: Jane Thomas 05 49 48 99 48

[email protected]

Regional Groups

Basse-Normandie (14, 50,61):

Jenny Luck 02 33 60 27 82

[email protected]

Bretagne-Ouest (29 w, 22w):

Judith Curl 02 96 45 76 20

[email protected]

Charente-Plus (16, 17, 86,87)

Pat Hyatt 05 45 29 66 24

[email protected]

Cœur-de-France (03,18, 58):

Teresa Cox 04 70 67 94 87

[email protected]

Creuse (23):

Mike Walsh 05 55 63 98 76

[email protected]

Deux-Sèvres (79):

June Searchfield 05 49 64 59 96

[email protected]

Dordogne Est/Lot (24E, 46):

Margaret York 05 65 22 96 [email protected]

Dordogne-Riberac (16s, 24w):

Valerie Wareham 05 53 90 62 03

[email protected]

Dordogne-Sud (24, 33, 47):

Tony Benstead 05 53 54 46 67

[email protected]

Gascony (31, 32, 65):

John Docherty 05 67 32 18 56.

[email protected]

Languedoc (12,30,34,48):

Cat Hartley 04 67 96 12 04

[email protected]

Lyons (69)

Paul Keats 04 78 03 71 [email protected]

Sud-de-France (09, 11, 66):

Hazel Turner 04 68 69 41 45

[email protected]

Vendée (85):

David Martin 02 51 00 92 97

[email protected]

Association Office & Siége Social Mairie

Le Bourg

16350 BENEST

Open every Tuesday 10h00—12h30

and by appointment

National Help-line

Télé/fax 05 45 89 30 05

An answerphone service operates outside office hours

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.cancersupportfrance.info

Internet Forum: http://csf-forum.org/

Donations for the national work of CSF

should be sent to the Treasurer, Andy She-

pherd, at

‘La Roche’, le Bourg

16350 BENEST

Touchlines

Published in January, March, May, July, September

and November

Copy Date: 10th of preceding month

Items for inclusion should be sent to the Editor:

Margaret York

Combe Brune, 46220 PRAYSSAC

E-mail: [email protected]

Please send photographs as separate files

Touch Lines May 2011 - Cancer Support France Newsletter

Documents

Transcript of Touch Lines May 2011 - Cancer Support France Newsletter