Happy New Year - Snippets from the NY Times and San Antontio Breast Cancer Symposium

The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held each December, is, to my knowledge, one of the largest gathering of researchers, breast cancer specialists and advocates each year. Having been fortunate to participate in 2001, compliments of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation, I follow the research that comes out of this convention annually. I plan on attending again next year if possible. (Financing advocacy trips is always difficult) Attending as an advocate is wonderful. If you can participate in the Alamo program, that is even better! You meet with other advocates, share your deas/perceptions and wrap up each day with participating specialists as your scientific mentor. My hat is always off to the ladies of the Alamo!

Here are some of the interesting topics that came out of SABCS this year.

NCI Cancer Centers of Excellence - The NCI (National Cancer Institute) designates cancer centers as regional centers of excellence in research and patient care. This study compares the performance of these centers to other local hospitals. Using a 5 year database from Medicare, the study assessed surgigal mortality and survival rates for elderly patients. Underoing lung, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, bladder or colon carcinoma resection. The NCI hospitals had lower surgical mortality rates, but there was no great difference in 5 year mortality rates. So while you might have a better chance of surviving the surgery at an NCI designated hospital, mortality rates remain the same at comparable hospitals. I personally would still opt for an NIC designated cancer center, if possible. Regardless of the statistics, they are committed to cancer treatment and the overall care should be top notch if the staff is committed to their patients.

CLUB DRUG "ECSTASY" will be tested in an FDA study to see if it helps terminally ill patients lessen their fears, quell thoughts of suicide and make it easier for them to deal with loved ones. This small study will be conducted at Harvard for 4 months this coming spring. Twelve patients will be enrolled from Boston's Lahey Clinic Medical Center. This study is heralded by MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies: "the longest day of winter has passed, and maybe so has the decades-long era of resistance to psychedelic research."

New York Times Article This was submitted through the website for Project LEAD graduates of NBCC (National Breast Cancer Coalition). I thank my friend and long time advocate, Helen Schiff, for reminding us that research is not the only avenue we need to pursue - we need to take care of all women, through health care access, treatment and support. Thanks, Helen!

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