VISION, MAY 2011

MAY 2011

National Cancer Registry ACS Global

The March issue of the South African Medical chronicle reports that
the lack of an up-to-date cancer registry for the country will be a
thing of the past as soon as the Department of Health’s (DoH) regu-
lation, which will compel health care facilities and laboratories to
provide the National Cancer Registry (NCR) with information, is pub-
lished in the Government Gazette. The regulation has already been
signed by health minister and the National Institute for Occupational
Health (NIOH) - responsible for the updating of the registry - is anx-
iously awaiting its publication. SA’s figures were last updated in 2002!
For the past 10 years, the NHLS has been unable to release statistics
because legislation prohibited source laboratories from divulging
confidential patient information. However, as soon as the regulation
is published, the NCR can start requesting information from labora-
tories and health care facilities countrywide.
In the past, submissions to the NCR were made voluntary by labo-
ratories. Now, however, laboratories and health care facilities will be
obliged to submit information to the NCR.
The Government Notice appears in the Government Gazette
dated 26th April 2011 and can be downloaded from:
www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=145819
Cancer
Ambassador
The American Cancer Society has
selected Linda Greeff, co-founder of
People Living With Cancer, as a Global
Cancer Ambassador for South Africa.
Linda has been invited to attend an
unique workshop in New York during
June focused on building a strong global civil society “cancer voice”.
Along with other select Global Cancer Ambassadors, she will be
trained on meeting with UN mission representatives and decision
makers, and on advocating to make cancer a health priority in South
Africa and globally. She will meet with South Africa’s Mission to the
United Nations in New York City to share her personal cancer story
and put forward specific requests for the High Level Meeting on
non-communicable diseases (NCDs), that the United Nations will
be convening in September 2011. She will also be sharing her story
and High Level Meeting requests with journalists from Africa and
the USA.

PLWC Pretoria take to the bottle

PLWC Pretoria held their first Bottles of Hope workshop during April at the Little
Company of Mary Hospital in Groenkloof. This event was attended by 72 adults
and children.
The aim of this workshop was to act as a fundraiser, advertising tool and an
opportunity to give back to the cancer community. The Buddy group supplied
the bottles, decorations and refreshments. Each person contributed R30 of which
R10 was for the bottles and decorations, R10 for the refreshments and R10 as a
donation to the buddy group. All the bottles were decorated and had a PLWC
label, contact details and a message of hope attached.
The bottles and Buddy flyers will be distributed at the oncology wards in the
Pretoria area starting at the Steve Biko and Kalafong hospitals.
The Bottles of Hope project was started in 1999 by a very special person, Diane
Gregoire, a cancer survivor and polymer clay artist. Diane found a way to use her
special talents as an artist to cheer up the lives of cancer patients going through
the ordeal of chemotherapy. She used clay to decoratively cover small glass
medicine bottles and gave them to other patients as a symbol of hope.

1
 VISION, MAY 2011

London Marathon
- mind over matter
Carl Liebenberg, one of the founders and directors of People Living
With Cancer, ran the London Marathon in five hours, on 17 April
2011 in support of all those in South Africa living with cancer, prov-
ing to people that there is life after cancer treatment. He sent us
this picture of himself at the finish and reports on the experience:
“The London marathon (actually any marathon) was an epic jour-
ney of mind over matter, overcoming physical pain and self doubt;
pushing yourself to the brink of physical capacity. It kind of reminds
me of my struggle during chemo!
“But it has to be one of the most well organised and well supported
marathons in the world. 36,000 thousand runners all doing some-
thing for charity. It's an amazing event. Apparently they raised
GBP50 million this year.
“Glad I "ticked the box". It wasn't a spectacular time for me - 5
hours. But I was happy with finishing given the lack of training due
to last year's injury. And I raised about R20,000 for PLWC!
“Now for the Two Oceans Ultra Distance Marathon in 2012!!”

Zip Zap Circus in Cape Town - new date

This will now be held 9 September 7pm. Zip Zap Circus has
donated an evening performance to PLWC. Tickets are R600 each/
R6000 per table. The night will include the circus performance by
Zip Zap, a 3 course dinner, an auction, lucky draws and more. For
more info email info@plwc.org.za

LIVESTRONG CARES ABOUT CANCER PATIENTS

OUR MISSION: TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER
PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CANCER
OUR MANTRA:
UNITY IS STRENGTH
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
LIVESTRONG connects individuals to the support they need,
The LIVESTRONG Guidebook is a companion for cancer leverages funding and resources to spur innovation and engages
survivors as they navigate the health care system. communities and leaders to drive social change. For more
information, visit LIVESTRONG.org.
This two-volume set contains helpful information and journal
spaces that help survivors address the physical, emotional and
practical concerns they may have during the cancer journey.
For individuals who would like to get a Guidebook, they can go
to http://www.store-laf.org/gbj001.html or contact
LIVESTRONG’s Navigation services 1-866-6733-7205 to
request one free Guidebook for themselves or a family/friend.
Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance
Armstrong and based in Austin, Texas, LIVESTRONG fights for
the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today.

2

Deciphering food
marketing gimmicks
"Value-added" foods, offering innovative twists on traditional prod-
ucts abound on supermarket shelves - cereals that make you lose
weight, yogurt that eases digestion, and chocolate calcium chews
that replace milk - the options can seem endless and overwhelm-
ing. But are they all that valuable? According to TOPS Club (Take
Off Pounds Sensibly), the answer is “not often”.
"You may find yourself purchasing foods that offer a very slight
nutritional advantage that's not worth the extra money or indulging
in a perceived health benefit that has not proven to be effective,"
says Katie Clark, MH, RD, CDE , Assistant Clinical Professor of
Nutrition at the University of California - San Francisco and nutri-
tion expert for TOPS.
Here are a few value-added food examples:
Fibre-enhanced fruit juice - essentially pulverised fruit with its fibre
removed and with a different type of fibre added back in. One cup
of orange juice with fibre can boast three grams of dietary fibre per
120 calorie serving. But one orange has four grams of fibre and only
70 calories - a lower-calorie, cheaper option with no processing
needed.
Vitamin-enhanced drink and waters have taken off in recent years,
although, according to Clark, "Many are merely overpriced, sugar-
sweetened waters with a tad of vitamins thrown in for good meas-
ure. You can get 100% of all the vitamins and minerals you need in
a well-balanced diet and a generic multivitamin only costs about
four cents a day."
A wealth of foods on the market tout "immune enhancing" or "pro-
immunity" benefits - from yogurts to cereals, drinks, and even
frozen vegetable blends. While there is ample data to support the
notion that a diet with insufficient nutrients compromises immuni-
ty, the opposite does not hold true: eating more nutrient-laden
foods has not been proven to increase immunity. Clark advises that,
"By eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly, you are
already maximizing your immune-enhancing behaviour!"
Omega-3 fatty acids are found primarily in fish, fish oil, and, to a
lesser degree, in flax and flaxseed oil, canola and soybean oils, and
walnuts and have numerous heart-health benefits, including reduc-
ing cardiovascular disease risk, lowering blood triglycerides, and
Free Cancer Resource List
The Johannesburg branch of People Living
With Cancer and the CanSurvive Cancer
Support Group have published a brochure
giving contact details for organisations in
and around Johannesburg who are there to
help cancer patients.
The brochure is freely available in hospitals
and doctors rooms, but should you have
difficulty getting one, please call us on 073
975 1452 or email us at jhb@plwc.org.za.
The brochure was sponsored by Bristol-
Myers Squibb Oncology.
3
VISION, MAY 2011
IT’S OK
TO TALK ABOUT
CANCER
We do it all the time at our CanSurvive
Cancer Support Group!
Join us on the second Saturday of each month for
a cup of tea/coffee, a chat and an interesting talk.
9h00 at 18 Eton Road, Parktown
Enquiries:
073 975 1452
email: jhb@plwc.org.za
lowering blood pressure. The American Heart Association recom-
mends a daily intake of 1,000 mg of EPA + DHA (two types of
omega-3 fatty acids) for people with documented heart disease,
equivalent to eating two to three servings of fish per week. Because
many people don't eat as much fish as they should, omega-3-forti-
fied foods, like eggs and butter, can seem appealing but, cautions Dr
Clark "These foods contain such small amounts of the beneficial
fatty acid that you'd have to ingest many portions per day to get
the recommended amount and you actually end up losing, calori-
cally. Incorporate more fish into your diet for an effective, compre-
hensive way to consume more omega-3s." (The Nutrition Facts
panel on one such enhanced omega-3 butter spread reveals it con-
tains only 32 mg of EPA + DHA per each one tablespoon serving.)
Article URL:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219980.php
When treatment ends ...
“I always thought that I would run and jump for joy when treat-
ment ended. Life would be so sweet and wonderful. Instead, I left
the hospital nearly dragging my feet, wondering why I felt so
dejected and so utterly alone. My depression continued for
months, to the point where I seriously considered going to see a
therapist. But, my husband then shared one of the most pro-
found insights I had ever heard. He told me that I didn't need to
see a therapist; I needed to talk with other cancer survivors. It
was then that I learned that what I was going through was total-
ly normal. I wasn't crazy!! It was amazing how much the cama-
raderie of other cancer survivors helped.”
This is a quote from a book “What’s next when treatment ends?”
which is currently being compiled by Paula Holland De Long and
it will be part of her Cancer Book Series.
Contact her at paula@whatsnextformylife.com or go to
http://whatsnextformylife.com/

THE VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE -
The Cancer
Centre
My new patient and his wife have
entered the “cancer world,” a place
where nothing is familiar. He clutch-
es a self-help book but mostly sits in
stunned silence.
“We never even thought about can- Dr Bruce Campbell
cer before!” his wife tells me. “Never!
We knew nothing about it until last week when the doctor
gave him the diagnosis!” She pauses and looks protectively at
her husband. “We have been reading nonstop ever since then.
It is all so overwhelming!”
She has a pile of internet downloads and a notepad crammed
with carefully numbered questions. Why did this happen?
Shouldn’t the cancer have been discovered sooner? Are the
kids at risk? These two internet sites have completely oppo-
site recommendations! What about lasers and robots? What
clinical trials are available? What tests can be performed
today? Can he have treatment closer to our home? Our
daughter is getting married in three months! The side effects
described on this site are terrifying! Can we start treatment
tomorrow?
Initial office visits were very different when I first started car-
ing for cancer patients in the 1980’s. In those days, people
often arrived with no information and, sometimes, had not
even been told they had cancer. Most people could, however,
recall a family story about a distant relative who had suffered
through treatment years before. “She developed a terrible
burn and then died,” they would recall. “There is no way I will
take any radiation!” Thanks to the internet, my task has shift-
ed from providing very basic information to sorting out the
competing information already encountered.
Cancer survivorship has also changed. Twenty years ago, sur-
vivors often felt completely alone, lamenting that they had
no one with whom to share their concerns. Back in those
days, a regular group of my patients met weekly just to talk.
The group disbanded as survivors turned increasingly to the
internet. Social media allow a 24/7 connection to survivorship
sites, blogs, discussion boards, reflective writing and even sur-
vivor-created artwork.
What has not changed? The statement, “You have cancer,”
still brings pain and fear. The reassurance, “You no longer have
cancer,” can sometimes bring doubt and uncertainty. Patients
are overwhelmed by the diagnosis, the well-meaning advice,
the tests, the treatments, the appointments and the informa-
tion overload.
Not long ago, I realized that I see about four times as many
people for follow-up visits as I do for initial visits. In other
words, I see many more people who have been cured of can-
cer than I see people who have cancer. For every patient who
needs a plan of cancer care, four will need a recheck and
encouragement. For every patient needing teaching about
what is to happen next, four will need reassurance the things
they are experiencing are common for other survivors as well.
4
VISION, MAY 2011
Play the game
Games are now a dominant form of media, even larger than the
motion picture industry, and are enjoyed across gender, age, and
cultural boundaries and according to a recent article in the
Journal of the American Medical Association, games that relate
to tough medical issues such as diabetes and even cancer may
have far more value than previously thought. The article quotes a
study of health-related mobile games that found this type of
gaming could improve diet and exercise compliance, a patient’s
understanding of their own condition, and even adherence to
medication regimens among other things.
With the proliferation of mobile applications in general, there’s
been several health-related games that lean more towards the
entertainment value rather than an educational spin, which the
study says is a fine line to walk. Successful entertainment game
designs draw on a well-understood set of features, such as a nar-
rative setting that motivates goals, systems of feedback, points,
levels, competition, teamwork, trading, and often, self-representa-
tion using an avatar. The extent to which a game is engaging (and
useful for health objectives) depends on the skill with which these
are implemented as a package for a particular audience.
One study evaluated Packy & Marlon, a Nintendo console game
published in 1994 that allowed children and adolescents to play
the role of a character with type 1 diabetes, monitoring glucose
levels, using insulin, and selecting foods. Some other examples of
these games are ZamZee, a mobile reward system for physical
activity; the Cornell University-developed Mindless Eating
Challenge to encourage portion control among teens; and Lit to
Quit, an iPhone-based smoking cessation app.
Sufficiently engaging games might enhance the effectiveness of
health messaging, allowing individuals to practice useful thought
patterns and behaviors and encouraging them to explore and
learn from failure in safe virtual environments.
This concept will definitely see major development as apps start
to take new technology being developed on smartphones into
account. Studies show that this is just the early stage of knowing
how to create and deploy applications that actually deliver health
benefits. Additional investigation is necessary to determine
whether and how to integrate effective interactive games into
clinical care settings and community programs without disrupting
trusted relationships with clinicians.
For every patient scheduled for surgery, I will try to help at
least four leave behind their fears.
My new, anxious, overwhelmed patient will complete his can-
cer treatment in several weeks. He and his wife will struggle
through the ordeal and, once the treatment is complete, they
will enter the “survivor world,” full of its own mysteries and
overwhelming experiences. Our “Cancer Center” will become,
for them, a “Survivor Center.” It will be a good place for us to
meet once again.
This post is reprinted from the Froedtert & Medical College of
Wisconsin 2011 Clinical Cancer Center Special Report.
Dr Bruce Campbell is a head and neck cancer surgeon (otolaryngologist) at
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. Read his blog at
http://www.froedtert.com/HealthResources/
ReadingRoom/HealthBlogs/Reflections.htm

ELSABE KLINCK WRITES ON -
Patient rights in the medical
schemes environment
Designated Service Providers
Regulation 8 to the Medical Schemes Act allows medical schemes
to require of members to obtain PMB services from Designated
Service Providers (DSP’s). The law provides no further guidance as to
how the selection of such DSPs should take place, or the negotia-
tions, discussions and agreements that should frame such appoint-
ments. Should practitioners enter into such negotiations collective-
ly, the provisions of the Competition Act have to be borne in mind,
i.e. that no fees agreed upon for example by a group that is fully
representative of a certain speciality, for example.
Both the Undesirable Business Practices Policy and previous HPCSA
Rulings state that doctors may participate in preferred provider net-
works, but that -
p entry criteria should be based on professional qualifications,
competence and quality of care; and
p these networks should not be exclusive – that all providers
must have the option of being included unless compelling rea-
sons for exclusion exists.
The law however distinguishes between patients who “voluntary”
visit a doctor who is not a DSP from patients who “involuntarily”
visit a non-DSP doctor. In the case of voluntary visits the medical
scheme may levy a co-payment, but not when the visit is involun-
tary.
Involuntary visits include cases where:
p the required service was not available from the DSP or would
not be provided without unreasonable delay;
p immediate medical or surgical treatment for a prescribed min-
imum benefit condition was required under circumstances or
at locations which reasonably precluded the beneficiary from
obtaining such treatment from a designated service provider;
or
p there was no designated service provider within reasonable
proximity to the beneficiary’s ordinary place of business or
personal residence.
This means that where, for example, a patient cannot secure an
appointment with a DSP, or where the DSP is difficult to reach
for the patient, such patient can visit a non-DSP without having
to co-pay.
Noteworthy decisions by the CMS Appeals
Committee
In GEMS v Dr Kara and SAMWUMED v Dr Puterman the level of
reimbursement to be paid to non-DSPs was at stake, i.e. what the
doctor charges, or the scheme tariff? It was noted that there was no
contractual or statutory relationship between the doctor and the
scheme and accordingly no basis for the scheme to prescribe what
fees the doctor was entitled to charge his patient and that the
scheme must pay “the amount which the member has to legiti-
mately pay to acquire the necessary medical services.” However,
doctors remain accountable to charge reasonable and fair fees.
5
VISION, MAY 2011
Will you talk about your
experience with cancer?
We are often asked if we can find someone who has, for
example, recovered from prostate or skin cancer, and who is
willing to write about it, speak to support groups, speak at
conferences, or even appear on radio or television. If you feel
that you would be able and willing to do this, at whatever level,
please give Chris a call at 083 640 4949 and she’d be very
pleased to hear from you.
Being touched by cancer is a life-changing experience. Many
people who have recovered from cancer eventually get on with
their lives and can (fortunately) put it behind them. Others feel
the need to help the many people who will follow in their
footsteps. This may take the form of working in a support group;
visiting patients in hospitals or clinics; or getting involved in
cancer awareness and prevention programmes.
By telling YOUR story, you could make a big difference in
someone’s life!
The case of DCT v Registrar illustrates the important role practition-
ers play in ensuring that patients can claim their rights, in providing
the information that is needed to establish whether a patient meets
the entry qualify criteria (in this case for hyperlipidaemia treat-
ment).
On whether patients are entitled to treatment not contained in the
CMS treatment algorithms, the case of Traub v Discovery Health
Medical Scheme is illustrative. In this case the patient failed on all
other therapies, and the only alternative available was a treatment
which could only be access through a co-payment. It was found
“that there [must] be a rational, justifiable basis for the protocol or
the formulary as a whole. This requirement does not and cannot
excuse the scheme from its obligations in terms of section 15H(c)
and 15I(c), both of which specifically provide that provision must be
made for departures from the protocol or formulary where neces-
sary without penalty to the beneficiary.”
On the manner in which managed care organizations have to act
towards patients, the case of MAR v the Registrar led to a finding
that “the scheme’s unreasonableness lies not in requiring a second
opinion but in the circumstances and the devil-may-care manner in
which it sought such second opinion.” The refusal of the scheme to
discuss the matter with the member and the failure of a supervisor,
and then the medical advisor, to call the patient also weighed
against the scheme.
Elsabé Klinck is a B.Iuris, LL.B graduate,
who also completed a degree in
Psychology for Applied Professional
Contexts and an Honours Degree in
German.
Elsabé has been working in the health sec-
tor since 2001, gaining valuable experience
dealing with medical practitioners and
pharmaceutical issues, as well being a key
contributor to a prominent health care
consulting company.
 VISION, MAY 2011

Around the World Dates to remember

14 May Cancer Support Group, Parktown 0900
21 May R4R General meeting/Support - 10h00
Investigators delve into complicated The Benefits of Rebounding
28 May Bosom Buddies Pink Pyjama Party
mechanisms of CLL 30 May Cape Town PLWC Support Group
An international team of investigators has discovered that the inter- 11 June Cancer Support Group, Parktown 0900
play among a major tumour-suppressing gene, truncated chromo-
somes and two sets of microRNA provides a molecular basis for 11 June Bosom Buddies 6th birthday bash
explaining the less aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic 27 June Cape Town PLWC Support Group
leukemia. 29 June R4R General meeting/Support 14h00
“Our findings could reveal new mechanisms of resistance to 9 July Cancer Support Group, Parktown 0900
chemotherapy among leukemia patients. This feedback mechanism 25 July Cape Town PLWC Support Group
could help us differentiate between patients with poor or good 30 July Bosom Buddies meeting
prognoses,” says George Calin, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in MD
Anderson’s Department of Experimental Therapeutics and co-direc- 7 August Angels Walking for Cancer - Zoo Lake
tor of the Center for RNA Interference and Noncoding RNAs. 13 August Cancer Support Group, Parktown 0900
Reported in the Jan. 4, 2011, edition of The Journal of the American 13 August R4R Volunteers update 10h00
Medical Association. 14 August Bosom Buddies Spinathon / Boxathon
29 August Cape Town PLWC Support Group
Vaccine to target genetic mutation 3 September Bosom Buddies Mad Hatters Tea Party
A vaccine that turns the immune system against certain brain 7 September R4R General meeting/Support 14h00
tumor cells improved patients’ survival in a Phase II clinical trial. All 9 September Zip Zap Circus event, Cape Town 19h00
these patients carried a genetic mutation that drives the most
aggressive form of glioblastoma multiforme. 10 September Cancer Support Group, Parktown 0900
26 September Cape Town PLWC Support Group
“This promising targeted therapy, CDX-110, blocks a key molecular
signal that drives these tumors’ malignant features,” says Amy 1 October Bosom Buddies meeting
Heimberger, M.D., associate professor in MD Anderson’s 1 October R4R General meeting/Support 10h00
Department of Neurosurgery and co-lead author on the paper. 2 October Livestrong Day
“The next step for the vaccine is a large Phase III clinical trial, which 8 October Cancer Support Group, Parktown 0900
is in the planning stages.” 31 October Cape Town PLWC Support Group
Reported in the Oct. 21, 2010, issue of Nature. 2–4 November R4R Volunteer Training
12 November Cancer Support Group, Parktown 0900
Myth busting with evidence 16 November R4R General meeting/Support 10h00
At the National Cancer Institute’s CIS Contact Center in Seattle, 26 November Bosom Buddies year end function 0900
Washington, nearly 70 information specialists handle approximately
28 November Cape Town PLWC Support Group
100,000 phone calls, e-mails, and live chat sessions annually. To give
their clients the most relevant and up-to-date evidence, the staff 3 December R4R Year End Gathering 10h00
draws on a variety of resources, including NCI Web sites and publi- 10 December Cancer Support Group, Parktown 0900
cations. CONTACT DETAILS :
The information specialists address some cancer myths directly. For People Living With Cancer, Johannesburg: 073 975 1452,
instance, a person may send an e-mail asking NCI to verify a suspi- plwc@icon.co.za
cious claim on the Internet. Or a myth may emerge organically dur- People Living With Cancer,Cape Town: 076 775 6099,
ing an extended phone conversation. info@plwc.org.za, www.plwc.org.za
"Cancer myths may not be the focus of the call, but we work hard Bosom Buddies: 0860 283 343, www.bosombuddies.org.za
to understand what else is going on with a person," said Silver. "The Campaign for Cancer: www.campaign4cancer.co.za
myth may be woven into the conversation, and we can pick up on
CANSA Johannesburg Central: 011 648 2340, 19 St John Road,
these clues as we talk."
Houghton, www.cansa.org.za
Just about every common cancer myth in the United States has Reach for Recovery (R4R) : Johannesburg, Antoinette Reis,
been discussed by the CIS since the service was established in 1975. 011 648 0990 or 072 849 2901
"Some of these myths have not changed much over the last few
Reach for Recovery: Harare, Zimbabwe contact 707659.
decades," said Randy Jacobs, an oncology nurse educator with the
CIS for more than 20 years. "What's changed is the Internet." Cancer Centre - Harare: 60 Livingstone Avenue, Harare
Tel: 707673 / 705522 / 707444 Fax: 732676 E-mail:
Indeed, some cancer myths could live online forever. Consider an cancer@mweb.co.zw www.cancerhre.co.zw
email falsely attributed to Johns Hopkins University that began to
6

circulate in 2004 and made unsubstantiated claims about cancer.
(For instance, the e-mail said that cancers feed on certain foods,
including sugar.)
The message was a hoax, and Johns Hopkins issued a detailed state-
ment responding to the claims. But 7 years later, people are still ask-
ing the CIS if eliminating sugar from the diet of a loved one will
cause the person's cancer to go away.
Johns Hopkins noted in its statement that a poor diet and obesity
can increase the risk of developing cancer. "However, there is no evi-
dence that certain foods alter the environment of an existing can-
cer, at the cellular level, and cause it to either die or grow," the
statement said. More recently, the CIS has fielded questions about a
myth that all cancers are caused by a fungus and that baking soda is
the cure.
Although the Internet has created new ways to spread myths about
cancer, it also has credible information debunking these myths. NCI
has published fact sheets about cancer myths and how to evaluate
information on the Internet,
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/041911/page6
UT MD Anderson get grant to study use of
acupuncture in cancer
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has been award-
ed a grant to study whether xerostomia, a debilitating side effect
caused by head and neck cancer radiation treatment, can be prevent-
ed when acupuncture is part of a patient's treatment regimen.
The $2.7 million grant awarded by the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) for the study of acupuncture in cancer received a perfect
score from peer scientists evaluating grant proposals for NCI. The
research is in collaboration with MD Anderson's Sister Institution,
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, in Shanghai, China.
Cohen estimates that xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, affects
more than 80 percent of head and neck cancer patients undergoing
radiation. The side effect can be debilitating for a patient's quality of
life, making it difficult to speak, eat, sleep and often results in taste
changes.
Acupuncture, which derives from traditional Chinese medicine, has
been practiced around the world for thousands of years, and is used
to relieve pain, treat infertility, and a host of other medical condi-
tions. MD Anderson has offered acupuncture, when appropriate, to
patients for pain or other cancer or treatment-related symptoms
since 2004.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219877.php
World physicians intensify campaign against
smoking
The World Medical Association will step up its fight against smoking
with proposals to ban the production, distribution and sale of candy
products that depict or resemble tobacco products.
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PUBLICATION IN
“VISION” NEWSLETTER
Articles and letters submitted for publication
in VISION are welcomed and can be sent to:
cansurvive@icon.co.za
7
VISION, MAY 2011
You don’t need to
face cancer alone!
We are here to help
You are invited to join us at our Cape Town
Cancer Support Group held at Vincent Pallotti
Hospital in the GVI Oncology unit
Time: 18h00 – 19h30
See the calendar on page 6 for dates
or contact the PLWC helpline on 076 775 6099
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU
At their three-day Council meeting in Sydney, Australia, (April 7-9)
WMA delegates agreed to recommend to their annual Assembly in
October plans to strengthen the organisation's anti tobacco policy
to combat moves by the tobacco industry to make their products
more appealing to young people.
Delegates argued that the WMA should extend its policy to include
restrictions on smokeless tobacco and tobacco-derived products,
including prohibiting all government subsidies for tobacco-derived
products.
Dr. Ardis Hoven, chair of the Board of the American Medical
Association, said the tobacco industry was now involved in aggres-
sively promoting new forms of cigarettes, such as smokeless tobac-
co and electronic cigarettes in shops and on the internet to attract
and appeal to young people, and the WMA needed to respond
strongly.
'The WMA welcomes the stringent measures of the Australian
Government to progress tobacco control in this country and we
hope this will be followed by other nations.'
Article URL:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221926.php
Armed antibody for Hodgkin’s lymphoma
An antibody loaded with an anti-cancer agent — brentuximab
vedotin (SGN-35) — produced complete or partial remissions in
38% of patients with relapsed or therapy-resistant Hodgkin’s lym-
phoma.
“That level of objective responses to a drug is impressive for a Phase
I trial,” says study lead author Anas Younes, M.D., professor in MD
Anderson’s Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma.
“There hasn’t been a new drug considered for Hodgkin’s lymphoma
in 30 years. These encouraging results are being confirmed in a large
Phase II trial.”
Anti-tumour effects included:
• 17 objective responses (38 percent), 11 of which (25 percent)
were complete remissions, defined as disappearance of all evi-

dence of the disease. A partial response consists of a 50 percent
˚decline in the cumulative diameters of known malignant
lesions and no new lesions.
• Half of patients (6 of 12) who received the maximum tolerated
dose had an objective response.
• CT scans showed that 36 of 42 (86 percent) evaluable patients
had their tumours shrink.
• 19 patients (43 percent) had stable disease.
• Of 16 patients who had disease symptoms at baseline, 13 (81
percent) had their symptoms resolved during treatment regard-
less of their response status.
Hodgkin lymphoma is unique among cancers, Younes explained,
because cancer cells make up only 5 percent of the tumour, with a
variety of inflamed cells composing the remaining 95 percent. "This
is the first scientific evidence that if you eliminate a few cancer
cells, the entire tumour can be degraded. Eliminate the 5 percent
and the rest goes away," Younes said.
Reported in the Nov. 4, 2010, edition of The New England Journal of
Medicine.
New 'Dissolvable Tobacco' products
The ACS's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry report that
the first study to analyse the complex ingredients in the new genre
of dissolvable tobacco products has concluded that these pop-into-
the-mouth replacements for cigarettes in places where smoking is
banned have the potential to cause mouth diseases and other prob-
lems.
The researchers found that the products contain mainly nicotine
and a variety of flavouring ingredients, sweeteners, and binders.
They note abundant scientific evidence about the potential adverse
health effects of nicotine, including those involving the teeth and
gums. Other ingredients in dissolvables have the potential to
increase the risk of tooth decay and one, coumarin, has been
banned as a flavouring agent in food because of its link to a risk of
liver damage. Nicotine in particular, is a toxic substance linked to
the development of oral cancers and gum disease.
Source: "Chemical Characterization of Dissolvable Tobacco Products
Promoted To Reduce Harm"
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219414.php
Five million pound grant to advance person-
alised treatments for kidney cancer
An international consortium led by scientists from the Cancer
Research UK London Research Institute, The Royal Marsden Hospital
and the Technical University of Denmark has been granted nearly
£5million by the European Union to identify gene targets for per-
sonalised treatment for kidney cancer patients.
The PREDICT research consortium will screen the entire gene set in
kidney cancer patients to identify which genes regulate cancer cell
growth in a low oxygen environment.
This will enable the scientists to better understand how cancer cells
respond to drugs blocking growth of blood vessels to tumours - a
process called anti-angiogenesis. Cutting off blood supply can starve
a tumour of oxygen and important nutrients, which destroys it.
Dr Charles Swanton, head of Translational Cancer Therapeutics at
Cancer Research UK's London Research Institute, together with
8
VISION, MAY 2011
WHAT’S NEW ON THE NET ?
What's New in Sarcoma Care and Treatment, with George
Demetri, MD
Dr. George Demetri discusses some scientific advances in the
care and treatment of people with sarcoma.
http://www.cancer.net/patient/Multimedia/Cancer.Net+Videos
/Treatments%2C+Tests%2C+and+Procedures/What%27s+New
+in+Sarcoma+Care+and+Treatment%2C+with+George+Deme
tri%2C+MD
ASCO Statement on "Annual Report to the Nation on the
Status of Cancer"
Rates of death in the United States from all cancers for men and
women continued to decline between 2003 and 2007, the most
recent reporting period available, according to the latest Annual
Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. The report also
finds that the overall rate of new cancer diagnoses for men and
women combined decreased an average of slightly less than 1
percent per year for the same period. A special feature highlights
changes in brain tumor rates and survival
http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/2011/Report
Nation2011Release
Bone Health
A new CancerCare Connect booklet, Caring for Your Bones When
You Have Cancer is available to download from:
http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=30926514&msgid=44
6818&act=WXP8&c=275644&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fw
ww.cancercare.org%2Fpdf%2Fbooklets%2Fccc_bone_care.pdf
NCCN Breast Cancer Risk Reduction
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has pub-
lished updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in
Oncology (NCCN Guidelines™) for Breast Cancer Risk
Reduction. These NCCN Guidelines™ are currently available as
Version 1.2011.
• The option of raloxifene was de-emphasized in the guidelines
for postmenopausal women desiring non-surgical risk reduction
therapy and included in a footnote that says "Utility of tamox-
ifen or raloxifene for breast cancer risk reduction in women
under 35 years of age is unknown. Raloxifene is only for post-
menopausal women > 35 y. While raloxifene in long-term fol-
low-up appears to be less efficacious in risk reduction than
tamoxifen, consideration of toxicity may still lead to the choice
of raloxifene over tamoxifen in women with an intact uterus."
• The panel also clarified in a new footnote that routine endome-
trial ultrasound and biopsy are not recommended for women on
tamoxifen therapy in the absence of other symptoms.
NCCN Central Nervous System Cancers
NCCN has published updates to the NCCN Guidelines for
Central Nervous System Cancers. These NCCN Guidelines are
currently available as Version 2.2011
• The Discussion section of the NCCN Guidelines for
Central Nervous System Cancers has been updated to corre-
spond with the treatment algorithms.

Zoltan Szallasi at the Danish Technical University will lead the scien-
tific arm of the consortium.
Dr Swanton, said: "This exciting opportunity means clinicians and
scientists across several European centres of excellence can work
together to find ways to match kidney cancer patients with the
treatments that will work best for them.
Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research
UK, said: "Personalised medicine could transform the lives of cancer
patients in the UK. The ultimate aim is to treat every patient as an
individual, and although we are still some way off, this research into
kidney cancer will bring us one step closer.
"Cancer Research UK is leading the way towards an era of targeted
medicine. We've already made many advances that have led to
more tailored treatments and our research spans many areas of
cancer - from hunting for faulty genes through to developing new
targeted treatments."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219509.php
Acknowledgement at last!
Call it "Chemobrain" or "Chemofog," researchers have at last
acknowledged what most chemo patients already know - that the
long-term chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline in cancer sur-
vivors is real!
The abstract of the report published in January 2011 says:
Results: Both the pathogenetic mechanisms and the overall clinical
nature of CICI remain vaguely defined. Findings indicate that CICI is
a relatively common event that, in most of the cases, remains
underdiagnosed, thereby adversely affecting the quality of life of
patients with cancer. Effective pharmacological interventions
toward the symptomatic or prophylactic management of CICI also
are lacking and the need for multidisciplinary care interventions
toward a timely diagnosis and management of CICI is clearly war-
ranted.
Nurses who just aren't up to the job - by
their leader
In an article in the UK Daily Mail, Britain's top nurse has admitted
that some members of her profession are not fit to work in hospi-
tals.
Andrea Spyropoulos, president of the Royal College of Nursing, said
that certain nurses ‘just don’t deliver good care’ and were neglect-
ing patients. She said they were giving the profession ‘a bad name’
and urged their colleagues to expose them.
Addressing delegates at the RCN’s annual conference in Liverpool
recently, Mrs Spyropoulos said:
‘No matter how much we might like to think otherwise, there are
some people in this profession who shouldn’t be. They are a very
DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for information purposes only and
is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional.
Please consult your doctor for personal medical advice before
taking any action that may impact on your health.
The views expressed are not necessarily those of People Living With
Cancer or those of the Editor.
VISION, MAY 2011
WHAT A GOOD IDEA !
Bells ring the end of radiation treatment
MD Anderson’s radiation treatment facilities have all the bells
and whistles — with emphasis on the bells.
Department of Radiation Oncology faculty and staff used their
expertise and the latest technology to treat more than 7,000
cancer patients last year.
When their treatment was completed, many of those patients
celebrated by ringing a bell at MD Anderson’s centers on the
main campus, in the Greater Houston area and in Albuquerque,
N.M.
The now-widespread tradition was introduced in 1996 at MD
Anderson when U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Irve Le Moyne, a patient
with head and neck cancer, installed a brass bell at the main
campus Radiation Treatment Center.
Patients who finish treatment at MD Anderson’s Proton Therapy
Center make a bit louder noise by banging a gong to symbolize
the restoration of balance, harmony and life energy.
small number and might not be in every hospital or clinical setting,
but there are nurses who just don’t deliver good care. It’s these peo-
ple who give us all a bad name.’
Earlier this year the Health Service Ombudsman exposed incidents
where patients had been neglected by nurses and other staff on
NHS ward and accused the NHS of ‘failing to treat the elderly with
dignity and respect’ and cited ten highly-distressing cases of patient
neglect.
An elderly man dying of stomach cancer was desperate to go to the
toilet but could not call for help because his mouth was so dry from
dehydration.
At the end of last year the Daily Mail launched a campaign with the
Patients Association calling for elderly patients to be treated with
more dignity and respect.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-
1375926/Nurses-just-arent-job-leader.html#ixzz1JHcagHsk
Cancer Coping Kit
The multi-lingual Cancer Coping Kit helps cancer patients cope
with their journey to recovery, thanks to a grant from the
National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF). 
The Cancer Coping Kit is available in English, Afrikaans, isiZulu
and seSotho. It provides knowledge and understanding for peo-
ple diagnosed with cancer. The kit also provides family members
and caregivers with information and coping techniques. Patients
or caregivers can obtain the kit from:
CANSA: 011 648 2340
Bev du Toit: 073 235 1571
People Living With Cancer: 073 975 1452
The Breast Health Foundation: 076 479 0400