Breast Cancer: Two Key Discoveries

The diet is sometimes a real therapeutic weapon . This is the surprise of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) conference, held in Orlando, Florida, in May. The study, led by Professor Rowan Chlebowski of the Los Angeles Institute of Biomedical Research, looked at nearly 2,500 women with early-stage breast cancer. It shows that those who received dietary training and who had a low fat diet (less than 20% of total caloric intake) reduced their risk of recurrence by 25% compared with women who had not received this formation. This is a considerable result, when you think that it is only a matter of watching his plate!

Although it concerns only a quarter of the patients suffering from a very aggressive form of cancer, the second scoop of the Asco is immense: "Two American studies and one European showed that the Herceptin, already used in advanced forms, can, when administered at an earlier stage, reduce the risk of relapse by 50%, enthuses Professor Morère. It's huge, it's been twenty-five years since I've seen such positive results. The thousands of oncologists present in the room at the time of the presentation of the results did not return. Women who take this adjunctive treatment immediately after surgery - and not at the time of recurrence - have a much lower risk of re-entry. And their chances of survival are improved significantly. The downside: if only 20 to 30% of women are concerned, they are the ones who need it most because they have an aggressive form called HER2-positive * . Concretely, after the surgical procedure, one takes the lesion and one practices a test on it. If the HER2-positive receptors are there, we can try the treatment.

(*) In these cancers, increased amounts of HER2 protein are present on the surface of tumor cells. These cases usually respond poorly to chemotherapy.

Breast cancer: The association

The association "breast cancer, let's talk about it!"

Since 1993, the MC Group, in partnership with the Estée Lauder-Clinique Group and the NRB-Vanquishing Cancer Association, has been mobilizing against breast cancer and campaigning for its early detection. This year, the Paris City Hall, the Burberry companies, Editions Bash, Evian Masters, Kitchen Aid, Wolford, and many other Town Halls, such as those of Issy-les-Moulineaux and Amiens, join us. Throughout the month of October, pink ribbons remind women that screening is the key to winning the battle against breast cancer. In France and throughout the world, monuments will be lit in pink to show that this mobilization concerns the entire planet.

Breast cancer: a summary in one day and practical information

The Institut Gustave-Roussy (IGR, in Villejuif) set up, for a year, a consultation of breast cancer diagnosis in one day. On the program: meeting with each specialist - oncologist, radiologist, pathologist and surgeon - and carrying out all necessary examinations. In more than 80% of cases, a precise and reliable diagnosis is communicated to the patient. If she wishes, a protocol and a program of adapted care are proposed to her. The consultation takes place every Monday and welcomes about thirty patients, previously referred by their doctor following a suspicion of breast cancer. 01 42 11 64 33.

In the same spirit, the American Hospital (Neuilly-sur-Seine) opened last April a consultation of specialized senology. 01 46 41 27 38.

Cancer info service: 0 810 810 821 (price of a local call), line of information and listening on cancer, financed to 80% by the Cancer Plan and 20% by the National League against cancer. Detailed but not personalized answers to all medical or legal questions.

The National Cancer Institute provides the public and professionals with a database on the Internet (www.e-cancer.fr) and practical information. 01 53 98 54 85.

Created by a former patient, L'Embellie, first place of sale, warm and full of tricks, where we find everything that revolves around cancer: wigs, clothes easy to put on, etc., but also workshops ( gym, make-up, writing), speaking groups and a documentation and referral center. 29 bd Henri-IV, Paris 4th, www.embellieboutique.com. The association La vie, more beautiful ..., already present in three hospitals (Center René-Huguenin, Saint-Cloud, hospitals Saint-Louis, Paris 10th, and Poplars, Paris 13th), opens in Lille a fourth free beauty and wellness treatment workshop for women in treatment. Thirty volunteer beauticians and the biggest cosmetics brands take part in the operation. www.laviedeplusbelle.org.

Spark, reception and listening space, psychological support, nutritional and dermatological advice, face and body care, speaking groups. 27 bis av. Victor-Cresson, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, 01 55 95 70 33, www.etincelle.asso.fr