NCI Cancer Bulletin; June 1, 2010 Volume 7 / Number 11

Some Older Women Can Forgo Radiation after Breast Cancer Surgery
Women 70 years of age or older with early-stage breast cancer did not benefit from the addition of radiation therapy to breast-conserving surgery and tamoxifen, according to the findings of a phase III randomized trial released last week. The study results, presented May 20 in advance of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, indicate that “death from breast cancer is a very rare event among [older] women with these small cancers,” said lead author Dr. Kevin Hughes of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The trial was conducted by three NCI clinical trials cooperative groups: the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group.
Between 1994 and 1999, the researchers enrolled 636 women in the trial; 319 received tamoxifen alone after surgery, and 317 received tamoxifen plus radiation therapy. All women had early-stage, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease that had not spread to the lymph nodes. The researchers followed the women for a median of 10.5 years after treatment.
Although adding radiation therapy to tamoxifen reduced the chance of cancer recurrence in the same breast by 6 percent, it did not affect overall survival, breast-cancer-specific survival, cancer spread, or the need for later mastectomy due to disease recurrence. The 10-year breast-cancer-specific survival was 98 percent for women receiving tamoxifen alone and 96 percent for women receiving tamoxifen plus radiation therapy.
“Older women often have small tumors that are ER-positive, without evidence of spread to the lymph nodes. This [study] is certainly practice-affirming and may be potentially practice changing,” said Dr. Douglas Blayney, president of ASCO. “Many [older] women…elect to defer radiation therapy. This gives us some comfort as physicians in supporting that decision…and maybe it will change the recommendations we make to our patients,” he concluded.

Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN

The Power of the Pipeline~Tracy McCray of the Post Bulletin 

Summer 2010 JTJ Newsletter

Great source on all things "happening" this summer at Join the Journey. Subscribe and receive directly to your IN BOX.

Big or Small-Save them All, Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraising Event

First Annual - Big or Small-Save Them ALL , Join the Journey Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraising event

When: Thursday, August 12th 5pm – 11pm

Location: The Wicked Moose Bar & Grill - Hwy 14 East across from Big Lots

Live Music 8pm-11pm by INCOGNITO

Donations at the door – plenty of amazing Silent Auction items for you to bid on, Purchase a $20 Gift Basket and you could walk out some custom - One of a Kind Jewelry created for this special event

Buy a T-Shirts for $15, Pink Bracelets $3, Dinner baskets just $10

Make a cash donation in honor of a Breast Cancer Survivor or someone who lost their battle with Breast Cancer and they will be acknowledged at the event on several Big Screens.

For more information, please contact Robin Hanson or Terry Ferrell at Counselor Realty in Rochester at 507-285-9400

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT WITH “THE HONKERS” *Discounted tickets available *

Date: Wednesday, July 28th  Honkers v Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers     
Time: Survivors Parade assemble at 6:30pm
          Honkers Game starts at 7:05pm
          WEAR PINK!
 Location: Mayo Field- 307 East Center Street
YOU CAN HELP US SELL TICKETS....SELL 10 TICKETS & GET ONE FREE! (a portion of ticket sales goes to support Join the Journey)
Option 1  $5 tickets available at Hy-Vee(all 3 locations) Saturday, July 24th 9am-1pm
Option 2   Contact Elynn Welle 507.288.4266  or cewelle@charter.net for tickets
Option 3 Pick up tickets at Join the Journey office on Thursday, July 22nd 9am-12p 1530 Greenview Dr. SW

OTHER ACTIVITIES & EVENTS:
First Pitch-thrown by Survivor Kathy Williamson
7th Inning Stretch Group Sing Along- "Take me out to the ball game...."  Join us with Nancy Schurhammer, Connie Lexvold, Kathy Williamson and Diane Trisko.  (contact Lori Pierce-507.261.1204)
Silent Auction-Bid on players special game jerseys
                                     Proceeds go to Join the Journey
Breast Cancer Information Table-staffed by Join the Journey board members

6th Annual Ten Mile Breast Cancer Awareness Walk~Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010

           Join us as we Walk~"money raised here stays here.."