Thermography not authorized to screen for breast cancer

Thermography has been in the news lately it is increasingly being used for breast cancer screening although it has been called into question by a recent CBC News investigation, which showed that some clinics offering thermography, which uses a heat-sensitive infrared camera, can detect indications of breast cancer much earlier than mammography.

Health Canada is advising Canadians and health care practitioners that no thermography (thermal imaging) machines have been approved to screen for breast cancer in Canada.

Health Canada is not aware of any clinical evidence that thermography can be used effectively as a screening technique for the early detection of breast cancer. As such, it may present a potential risk to women relying on the results.

Health Canada would also like to remind consumers that thermography machines are not a replacement for routine monitoring and screening for breast cancer. Patients who have relied on these types of machines for breast cancer screening should contact their physician for appropriate follow-up and testing.

The Department is following-up with the manufacturers of these devices to help ensure they are aware that it is illegal to advertise or sell these types of machines to screen for breast cancer in Canada. This could result in a stop sale of any unlicensed product. Health Canada is also working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop any unlicensed devices from entering Canada.

Health Canada will be communicating with the provincial and territorial ministries of health to advise them that clinics falling under their responsibility should not be promoting or using these devices to screen for breast cancer.


There is more information on breast cancer, available through the Public Health Agency of Canada at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cd-mc/cancer/breast_cancer-cancer_du_sein-eng.php. To confirm whether a device is licensed in Canada, please refer to the Medical Devices Active Licence Listing at www.mdall.ca.

Complaints involving thermography machines used in the screening of breast cancer can be reported to the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-800-267-9675, or by writing to:

Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate
Health Canada
Address Locator: 2003D
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9

Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact Health Canada’s public enquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.

Pour les hommes souffrant du cancer de la prostate, le sexe a toujours de l’importance

Les Canadiens sous-estiment les difficultés associées aux repercussions du cancer de la prostate sur la vie sexuelle

TORONTO, le 29 nov. 2012 : Selon deux sondages récents de la firme Léger Marketing sur les perceptions qu’ont les Canadiens des situations les plus difficiles à vivre pour un homme lorsqu’il est confronté à un diagnostic du cancer de la prostate, il existe un écart considérable dans l’appréciation de la qualité de vie découlant de la maladie.

Par exemple, selon le sondage, les Canadiens en général (32 %) et les hommes ayant été atteints ou souffrant actuellement d’un cancer de la prostate (37 %) s’entendaient pour dire que l’inquiétude et le désespoir sont les deux éléments les plus difficiles à affronter, mais les deux groupes avaient une perception très différente de l’importance des répercussions du cancer de la prostate sur la vie sexuelle d’un homme.

Le sondage suggère aussi que les hommes souffrant ou ayant souffert du cancer de la prostate ont place leur vie sexuelle au deuxième rang des éléments les plus difficiles à affronter au moment où le diagnostic du cancer de la prostate est tombé (23 %), tandis que les autres Canadiens l’ont placé au sixième rang (4 %). Parmi les hommes atteints du cancer de la prostate, ceux des provinces de l’Atlantique (32 %) et de l’Ontario (28 %) sont plus susceptibles de se préoccuper de leur vie sexuelle à la suite du diagnostic que ceux vivant au Québec (15 %).

« Le cancer de la prostate peut affecter les hommes sur bien des plans », affirme le Dr Jean-Baptiste Lattouf, M.D., uro-oncologue et laparoscopiste membre du CRMCC, et professeur adjoint au Département de chirurgie du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). « La maladie a bel et bien des répercussions sur les relations sexuelles de l’homme avec sa ou son partenaire, mais je crois également que l’espoir joue un très grand rôle. Voilà qui nous incite à mieux saisir de quelle façon nous pouvons venir en aide aux hommes, que ce soit en leur offrant des renseignements plus clairs, des traitements nouveaux ou améliorés, ou un meilleur soutien dans leur combat contre le cancer. »

Jackie Manthorne, présidente-directrice générale du Réseau canadien des survivants du cancer (RCSC), abonde dans le même sens. « Ce sondage met en lumière plusieurs points importants », declare adame Manthorne. « Nous savons que l’intimité sexuelle est une préoccupation constante despatients atteints du cancer de la prostate et, à vrai dire, de toute personne atteinte de cancer. Les professionnels de la santé doivent donc prendre le temps d’encourager leurs patients à exprimer leurs inquiétudes. Pour les patients atteints du cancer de la prostate et pour les survivants, les questions liées à la qualité de vie sont bien réelles et elles doivent être mieux comprises et prises en charge. »

Les résultats mettent en lumière les éléments figurant aux cinq premiers rangs des choses les plus difficiles à vivre pour les hommes souffrant du cancer de la prostate : le sentiment de gêne, le fait de savoir que leur maladie a des répercussions sur les personnes qui leur sont chères et la crainte de ne pas pouvoir accéder aux meilleurs traitements.

Parler du cancer de la prostate

Selon le sondage, la majorité des hommes sont à l’aise de discuter avec d’autres personnes du fait qu’ils souffrent ou ont déjà souffert du cancer de la prostate, et ils ne sont pas gênés de l’avouer. De plus, 83 % des sondés s’entendent pour dire que leur entourage est sensible à leur état de santé.

Cependant, le sondage démontre que jusqu’à 30 % des Canadiens ayant eu un diagnostic du cancer de la prostate ont l’impression que leur entourage croit que cette maladie n’est pas grave. De même, 44 % des sondés admettent que leur famille et leurs amis ne comprennent pas à quel point un cancer de la prostate est sérieux.

« Nous devons continuer d’éduquer la population sur la gravité de cette maladie », explique madame Manthorne. « Il est vrai que plusieurs personnes vivent longtemps et pleinement avec un cancer de la prostate, mais d’autres n’ont pas cette chance. Le cancer de la prostate demeure tout de même un cancer. Il ne doit pas être pris à la légère. »

Résultats du sondage par région :

• 87 % des hommes sont à l’aise de discuter avec d’autres personnes du fait qu’ils souffrent ou ont déjà souffert du cancer de la prostate et ne sont pas gênés d’en parler.
• Les hommes mariés sont moins enclins à discuter de façon ouverte avec d’autres personnes du fait qu’ils souffrent ou ont déjà souffert du cancer de la prostate, comparativement aux hommes célibataires, veufs, divorcés ou séparés (85 % vs 93 %).
• Les hommes des provinces de l’Atlantique semblent être les plus à l’aise d’en discuter avec d’autres personnes (98 % vs 86 % dans le reste du Canada).
• Les hommes du Québec sont les plus susceptibles de vivre un sentiment de gêne par rapport à leur diagnostic (40 % vs 15 % dans le reste du Canada).
• 83 % des hommes souffrant ou ayant déjà souffert du cancer de la prostate s’entendent pour dire que leur entourage est sensible à leur état de santé.
• Les hommes de la Colombie-Britannique (92 %) ont davantage tendance à affirmer que leur entourage est sensible à leur état de santé que les hommes du Québec (81 %) et des provinces de l’Atlantique (77 %).

« Nous continuons à faire de grands progrès dans notre compréhension de la maladie, tant du point de vue médical que social », déclare le Dr Lattouf. « Un dialogue soutenu ne pourra que nous aider à progresser vers une meilleure compréhension des besoins des hommes afin qu’ils relèvent avec success les nombreux défis qui les attendent pendant et après leur traitement. »

À propos du sondage

Le sondage, commandé par Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., a été mené en ligne par la firme Léger Marketing du 3 au 9 octobre 2012, auprès d’un échantillon de 603 Canadiens souffrant ou ayant déjà souffert du cancer de la prostate. Un autre sondage en ligne avait aussi eu lieu du 30 juillet au 1er août 2012, et les résultats ont été utilisés à des fins comparatives.

La marge d’erreur d’un tel échantillon d’hommes qui ont ou ont eu cancer de la prostate est de ±2,5 %, 19 fois sur 20. La marge d’erreur d’un tel échantillon de Canadiens en général est de ±4,0 %, 19 fois sur 20.

À propos du Réseau canadien des survivants du cancer (RCSC)

Le Réseau canadien des survivants du cancer a été créé par un groupe de Canadiennes et de Canadiens préoccupés par le cancer. La mission du RCSC est d’encourager la collaboration entre les patients vivant avec le cancer, leur famille et la communauté. Le Réseau sera ainsi plus apte à détecter et à franchir les barrières qui se dressent devant l’accès à des soins optimaux; il pourra également s’assurer que les survivants du cancer ont accès à de l’information et peuvent agir, de façon à ce que leurs voix soient entendues dans la planification et la mise en œuvre d’un système de santé optimal. Le RCSC s’engage à éduquer le public et les décideurs en matière de cancer en ce qui concerne les répercussions de celui-ci sur les coûts financiers, émotionnels, et sur ceux de la santé, à offrir des solutions et des idées positives, et à faire des recommandations dans le but d’atténuer ces répercussions. Pour en savoir plus, visitez le www.survivornet.ca/fr.

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., dont le siège social est à Markham, en Ontario, est une filiale canadienne d’Astellas Pharma, Inc., basée à Tokyo. Astellas est une entreprise pharmaceutique déterminée à améliorer la santé des gens partout dans le monde en leur offrant des produits pharmaceutiques fiables et novateurs.

L'organisation s'est engagée à devenir un chef de file mondial dans des domaines ciblés en combinant d’exceptionnelles ressources en recherche et développement et en marketing. Au Canada, Astellas concentre ses activités dans les cinq secteurs thérapeutiques suivants : l’urologie, l’immunologie, les maladies infectieuses, la dermatologie et l’oncologie.

Pour de plus amples informations au sujet d’Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., veuillez visiter le www.astellas.ca

For Men with Prostate Cancer, Sex Still Matters

Canadians underestimate difficulty of coping with prostate cancer’s impact on sex life

TORONTO Nov 29, 2012: Two recent Leger Marketing surveys probing Canadians’ perceptions of the most difficult things to deal with if faced with a diagnosis of prostate cancer illustrate a significant gap in appreciating quality of life issues associated with the disease.

For instance, according to the surveys, while Canadians in general (32%) and men who have had, or currently have, prostate cancer (37%) both rated worrying or losing hope as the hardest single thing to deal with, the two groups had a significantly different understanding of the importance of the impact of prostate cancer on a man’s sex life.

The surveys also suggest men who have or had prostate cancer rated their sex life as the second most difficult thing to deal with when facing a diagnosis of prostate cancer (23%) whereas Canadian men ranked sex life as sixth overall (4%). Of those affected by prostate cancer, men from Atlantic Canada (32%) and Ontario (28%) are more likely to worry about their sex lives after their prostate cancer diagnosis compared to those in Quebec (15%).

“Prostate cancer can affect men on a number of levels,” says Dr. Jean-Baptiste Lattouf, MD, FRCS (C) uro-oncologist, laparoscopist, assistant professor at the Surgery Department of the Hospital Center of the University of Montreal (CHUM). “The disease can most definitely impact a man’s sexual relationship with his partner, but I also think the issue of hope is an important one. It challenges us to better understand how we can help men, whether it’s through better information, new or improved treatments, or stronger support, during their cancer journey.”

Jackie Manthorne, president and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Survivors Network (CCSN), concurs. “This survey highlights a number of important points,” says Manthorne. “We know that sexual intimacy is an ongoing challenge for many prostate cancer patients, and indeed, cancer patients in general. Healthcare professionals need to ensure they take time to encourage patients to express their concerns. Quality of life issues are very real for prostate cancer patients and survivors and they need to be better understood and managed.”

The results indicate feeling embarrassed, knowing their illness has an impact on loved ones, and being unable to access new and better treatments round out prostate cancer sufferers’ top five ranking of their most difficult issues.

Talking about prostate cancer

According to the survey, most men are comfortable discussing with others the fact they have or have had prostate cancer and are not embarrassed to tell people about it. In addition, 83% of respondents agreed that people around them are sympathetic about their condition.

But for the Canadians who have had to deal with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, the survey reports as many as 30% feel that the people around them do not think that prostate cancer is important.    

Additionally, 44% of respondents agree that their family and friends don’t understand how serious a disease prostate cancer is.

"We need to continue educating people about the seriousness of the disease," says Manthorne. "It is true that many people live long and fulfilling lives with prostate cancer, but others aren't so lucky. Prostate cancer is still cancer. It needs to be taken seriously."

Regional findings from this survey:

• 87% of men are comfortable discussing with others that they have or have had prostate cancer; the same proportion says they are not embarrassed to tell people about it.

• Men who are married are less likely to be comfortable discussing that they have/had prostate cancer with others compared to men who are single, widowed, divorced or separated (85% vs. 93%).

• Regionally, men from Atlantic Canada are the most likely to feel comfortable discussing this with others (98% vs. 86% rest of Canada).

• Men from Quebec are the most likely to feel embarrassed about their diagnosis (40% vs. 15% rest of Canada).

• 83% of men who have or have had prostate cancer agree that people around them are sympathetic about their condition.

• Regionally, men from B.C. (92%) are more likely to agree that people around them are sympathetic towards their condition compared to men from Quebec (81%) and Atlantic Canada (77%).

“We continue to make strides in our understanding of the disease from both a medical and social perspective,” says Dr. Lattouf. “Ongoing dialogue will only help our progress to better understand what men need to successfully address their challenges during and after their treatment.”    

About the Research

The survey, commissioned by Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., was completed online by Leger Marketing from October 3, 2012 to October 9, 2012 with a sample of 603 Canadian men who currently have or have had prostate cancer. A previous survey completed online from July 30, 2012 to August 1, 2012, with a sample of 1500 Canadians, was used for comparison.

A probability sample for men who have/had prostate cancer of the same size would yield a margin of error of ±2.5 %, 19 times out of 20. A probability sample for Canadians in general of the same size would yield a margin of error of ± 4.0%, 19 times out of 20.

About the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN)

The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network was created by a group of Canadians concerned about cancer.  CCSN's mission is to empower collaborative action by cancer patients, families and communities to identify and work to remove barriers to optimal patient care, and to ensure that cancer survivors have access to education and action opportunities to have their voices heard in planning and implementing an optimal health care system. CCSN is committed to educate the public and policy makers about the financial, emotional and health costs of cancer and offer considered, positive ideas and recommendations to alleviate their effects. To learn more, visit www.survivornet.ca.

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. 

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., headquartered in Markham, ON, is a Canadian affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc.

Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities.

In Canada, Astellas has an intense commercial focus on five therapeutic areas – Urology, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Dermatology and Oncology. For more information about Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., please visit the corporate website: www.astellas.ca

New study shows elevated risk of breast cancer in auto plastics, tooling, foundries and metal-related industries

Examining workplace Risk for Breast Cancer: Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Funded Researchers Share New Findings

WINDSOR, ON (November 19, 2012) – A multi-year research project funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) finds an average increase in breast cancer risk of 42 per cent for women who work for a ten year period in environments with high exposure to carcinogens and hormone disrupting chemicals. 

 

CBCF-funded lead researchers Dr. James Brophy and Dr. Margaret Keith along with an international team of co-investigators gathered occupational histories from more than 2000 women in Essex and Kent counties in Southern Ontario, including both those diagnosed with breast cancer and women unaffected by the disease. 

 

“Over the last 25 years mortality rates for breast cancer have declined by nearly 40 per cent but incidence rates have remained the same, with one in nine Canadian women getting breast cancer in her lifetime,” said Sandra Palmaro, CEO, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region. “This research provides new evidence about workplace risks associated with breast cancer that we hope will lead to a better understanding of how to prevent the disease.”

 

The findings also indicated further elevated risk in certain workplaces or industries.  For example, women working in: 

• Automotive plastics and food canning industries are approximately 500 per cent (five times) more at risk to develop breast cancer before reaching menopause
• Tooling, foundries and metal-related manufacturing are 73 percent (1.73 times) more at risk of developing  breast cancer 
• Bars and gambling facilities are 228 percent (2.28 times) more at risk of developing breast cancer 
• Farming are 36 per cent (1.36 times) more at risk of developing breast cancer 

“This study contributes to the growing evidence regarding the importance of preventing exposures to agents that increase breast cancer risk.  It also points to the value of considering women’s occupational histories when we are searching for modifiable risk factors,” said Dr. James Brophy, co-principal investigator on the project.

 

“For too long researchers have ignored women’s workplace conditions in their quest to understand why some women develop breast cancer and others do not.  These findings reveal that we need to revamp our occupational health regulatory system to take into account women’s breast cancer risk. Such preventive measures could have a significant impact on the breast cancer incidence in Canada,”said Dr. Margaret 

Keith, co-principal investigator on the project.

 

This landmark research provides new evidence to help inform discussions with governments, industry, health care providers and stakeholders about the serious effects occupational risk factors can have on the development of breast cancer, which impacts women everyday in Ontario, across Canada and around the world.

 

“This research reminds us that we need to continue to demand a precautionary approach to dealing with toxic substances,” stated Dayna Nadine Scott, Director of the National Network on Environments and Women’s Health. “There is a growing understanding that when it comes to endocrine disrupting chemicals, even low doses can be dangerous.”

 

About the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

 

CBCF is the largest non-governmental funder of breast cancer research in Canada and one of the largest in the world. Its investments in research and fellowships are changing the landscape of what is known and understood about breast cancer and have supported more than $274 million in research projects and fellowships since 1986.  This study was funded by Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region.

CCSN calls for timely access to targeted bone therapies for patients with advanced prostate cancer in BC

November 12, 2012 - The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network is deeply concerned that men, in British Columbia, with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to their bones are not receiving the same evidence-based care as patients in other provinces.  Patients in British Columbia are being denied access to bone targeted treatment at the appropriate time in therapy.

Men whose cancer has spread, or metastasised, to their bones are at risk of developing serious, debilitating complications such as fractures, spinal cord compression or the need for surgery or radiation. These complications can cause mobility issues, disability, hospitalization and even death.

To reduce the risk of developing bone complications, patients with advanced prostate cancer need to receive a bone-modifying agent at the earliest confirmation of metastases. However, such patients in BC with must wait until they are considered palliative, or have six months to live, before BC Pharmacare will pay for treatment to prevent complications. Even at this stage, physicians are limited in their choice of treatment as the government will only pay for older agents and not the newer approved treatment option.

The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network believes that patients with advanced prostate cancer in British Columbia deserve the same access to treatment and standard of care as patients in other provinces. BC Pharmacare must allow physicians the freedom to choose the most appropriate treatment at the earliest sign of metastases, when the agent can be most helpful, to prevent debilitating complications in men with advanced prostate cancer.

If you would like to assist us in our efforts to help men with advanced prostate cancer receive the same evidence-based care as patients in other provinces, please contact me atJmanthorne@survivornet.ca.

Together we can make a difference.