Previvors and Survivors
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
A lawsuit has been filed against Myriad Genetics & the Patent Office
This story has multiple links: If I understand it correctly, it goes like this:
This link explains a senate debate on 11/12/08 http://www.openaustralia.org/senate/?id=2008-11-12.32.1
There are three BRCA1 patents & one BRCA 2 patent in Australia. Myriad Genetics took out these 4 patents in the USA. Genetic Technologies LTD in Australia is the exclusive licensee of these patents. Therefore the MONOPOLY on BRCA testing!
The following two links further explain the lawsuit against MYRIAD GENETICS & the US Patent Office. Apparently, there is finally awareness & some people are outraged to know that there is a patent on BRCA gene research. This monopoly prevents further research by other interested parties. Myriad Genetics will argue that they have the rights to the patent & it enables them to invest in research & development of cures. The people (cancer patients, pathologists, & genetic researchers) feel that having more players involved will bring down costs to testing & research & cures. The lawsuit also challenges gene patenting in general.
Please feel free to add your comments people!
LINKS:
ACLU sues over patents on breast cancer genes from cnn.com on 5/13/09
By: Stephanie Smith & Caitlin Hagan http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/12/us.genes.lawsuit/
Cancer Patients Challenge the Patenting of a Gene from The NYtimes.com on 5/13/09
By: John Schwartz
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/health/13patent.html?_r=2&hp
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
- How do women seek genetic testing for breast cancer? Why do women choose to get tested for a condition that may or may not develop, or have control over?
- What is the lived experience of women who have had a positive result from their genetic test? How is this affected if they have a family history of breast cancer?
- What decisions, if any, do they make once they have a positive result? Is there a different between their immediate and long-term decisions
- What role do their immediate family network, close friends, and co-workers play in their decision to get tested and in their post-testing experience?
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
Testing the Exercise-Breast Cancer Link by: Tasheema Prince 5/4/09
Follow this link for the article: http://www.oncologynursingnews.com/Testing-the-Exercise-Breast-Cancer-Connection/article/136093/
Researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center are doing a three year study on the possibility of exercise being used as a way to reduce the development of breast cancer. The mode of exercise being used is the TREADMILL. Women in the high risk group (BRCA people are high risk) will be doing 300 minutes of exercise/week—that is approximately 45 minutes/day!
GET MOVING LADIES!!! IT CAN’T HURT!!!
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
CANCER causes: Popular myths about the causes of cancer
Follow this link for the entire article: http://mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-causes/CA00085
According to, Timothy Moynihan, M.D., a cancer specialist at Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., there is no conclusive evidence linking antiperspirants or deodorants with breast cancer. Parabens which are ingredients found in many toiletry products have been found in breast tissue, however, it is still inconclusive that this causes breast cancer.
According to the FDA, it is also inconclusive that “microwave safe” plastics in the microwave release cancer causing substances into the food. Some claim these plastics contain “dioxins” but the FDA says there is no evidence that this is so.
Another myth is that consuming sugar makes cancer grow faster in your body! This is just not so!
Cancer is also not contagious. HPV-a sexually transmitted disease & hepatitis C are viruses & can cause cervical cancer & liver cancer respectively. The virus is contagious- the cancer is not—& not everyone who has these viruses will develop cancer.
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
Six Miracle Cancer Survivors by Robert Langreth
Follow this link for the entire article: http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/11/cancer-cure-experimental-lifestyle-health_0212cancer.html
I found this article inspiring & full of hope for future cancer treatments. It’s about a new concept in cancer treatment- drugs that try & push your own immune system to kill your cancer.
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
‘Cancer-free’ baby born in London
Follow this link for more on this article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/09/uk.cancerfree.baby/
Friday, 1/9/09 a very expensive genetically engineered baby girl was born in London, England free of the BRCA gene mutation.
This has become a very controversial subject! If an embryo has the BRCA mutation, it is discarded & not implanted in the mother. This becomes controversial because not everyone who has the BRCA gene mutation develops cancer.
WOULD YOU DO GENETIC SCREENING FOR YOUR EMBRYOS IF YOU COULD?
Feel free to leave your comments here…
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
Breaking the Chain by Wendy Elliman
Follow this link for the entire awesome article!
http://www.hadassah.org/news/content/per_hadassah/archive/2008/08_Nov/medicine.asp
This past June, twins were born at the Hadassah Hospital in Israel without the BRCA gene mutation. Embryos free of the mutation were implanted in the mother enabling her to “break the breast cancer chain” in her family & give birth to BRCA free babies. Six other BRCA positive couples also had the genetically BRCA free embryos implanted using in-vitro fertilization treatment. One of these couples gave birth in September, & the other 5 couples are expecting soon!
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
How women cope with the results of BRCA testing for hereditary breast cancer
By Robert White
Follow the link for the entire article: http://www.topcancernews.com/news/1843/1/How-women-cope-with-the-results-of-BRCA-testing-for-hereditary-breast-cancer
Women with negative BRCA results had the lowest rates of worry & cancer related distress. Women who had inconclusive results (have no genetic mutation currently known to increase breast cancer risk) had similar levels of distress as those who tested BRCA positive. All women had less stress after being tested than before. The women with inconclusive results may still be at risk for breast cancer because of unrecognized mutations or other risk factors associated with family history of breast cancer. BRCA testing is stressful & best done with a genetic counselor who can help evaluate the results.
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
New Tumor Inhibitor for Treatment of Hereditary Breast Cancer Shows Promising Results in Mouse Model.Journal reference:Sven Rottenberg, Janneke E. Jaspers, Ariena Kersbergen, Eline van der Burg, Anders O. H. Nygren, Serge A. L. Zander, Patrick W. B. Derksen, Michiel de Bruin, John Zevenhoven, Alan Lau, Robert Boulter, Aaron Cranston, Mark J. O’Connor, Niall M. B. Martin, Piet Borst, and Jos Jonkers. High sensitivity of BRCA1-deficient mammary tumors to the PARP inhibitor AZD2281 alone and in combination with platinum drugs. PNAS Online Early Edition, October 29, 2008
Netherlands Cancer Institute (2008, November 2). New Tumor Inhibitor For Treatment Of Hereditary Breast Cancer Shows Promising Results In Mouse Model. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 6, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/10/081030075651.htm
Full article at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081030075651.htm
Researchers of the Netherlands Cancer Institute have recently started human trials of an “inhibitor” AZD2281 to stop breast cancer in BRCA1 gene mutations. This inhibitor developed drug resistance long term in the mouse model but was reversed after using another inhibitor, so researchers feel the AZD2281 helps make it more effective. This mouse model is a good test for future new anti-cancer drugs.
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
Scientific Advances Looking to Stop “Cancer Gene”
By Nathaniel Popper
Follow this link for the entire story: http://www.forward.com/articles/14478/
The past 10 years researchers have identified BRCA positive patients & have treated them prophylactically. Now science is going in another direction & they want to know how the gene causes cancer & how it can be prevented. An Australian researcher by the name of Georgia Chenevix-Trench is one of the leaders of this research. There is also a research team being run out of New York University called the Jewish Women’s Breast & Ovarian Cancer Genetics study (from the Jewish Women’s Foundation). The want to know why some BRCA positive women get cancer & some do not & how this cancer process can be stopped- they have a team collecting DNA samples (spit samples-instead of blood) from older Jewish women (at Hadassah lunches & book clubs.) Harry Ostrer is the lead geneticist of this study. Both these researchers are collecting & analyzing these BRCA genes to find out what the BRCA positive women who don’t get breast cancer have that the women who get breast cancer don’t have! Yet at the University of Chicago’s Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics researcher Olufunmilayo Olopade (overseer of drug trials) they are testing a drug that can target defective cells caused by the BRCA gene mutation. Also new, researchers can look at an entire genetic code rather than just a single site. This enables doctors to see whether other genes might interact with the BRCA genes to cause cancer. Another ambitious study is going on at the University of Cambridge called the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 or CIMBA. Here they are hoping to find the genes that decrease the prevalence of BRCA positive people getting cancer. The researchers hope that these discoveries will also aid other areas of cancer research.