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International News
Reports from the European Breast Cancer Conference and the European Association of Urology Congress CEP17 Breast Cancer Tumors Are More Likely to Respond to Anthracyclines BARCELONA—Breast cancer patients with the chromosome enumeration probe 17 (CEP17) alpha satellite abnormality are more likely to have good outcomes from chemotherapy involving anthracycline antibiotics than women without the abnormality, according to new data released at the Seventh European Breast Cancer Conference. John Bartlett, MD, with the University of Edinburgh in Scotland presented the results of a meta-analysis of four adjuvant breast cancer trials that enrolled a total of nearly 3000 women. Women with CEP17 tumors that were treated with anthracyclines were roughly two thirds more likely to survive without recurrent cancer than those who did not receive anthracyclines. Recurrence-free survival was 67%, and overall survival was 63%. Prior research by the same investigators had shown that duplication of CEP17 predicts sensitivity to anthracyclines. “CEP17 can be readily assessed in fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 [HER2] status and may repre-
sent a clinically useful biomarker for the selection of patients likely to benefit from anthracycline-containing therapies,” Bartlett pointed out. He added that the research is important because there has been conflicting evidence on the best way to predict response to anthracyclines and because it has not been clear whether any of the known biomarkers like HER2 and topoisomerase 2 alpha were accurate indicators of response to these drugs.
High BMI Is No Reason to Exclude Prostate Cancer Patients from Minimally Invasive Surgery BARCELONA—Minimally invasive prostate cancer surgery known as robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is an effective and safe treatment option in obese patients, investigators announced at the 25th Anniversary European Association of Urology Congress. David Samadi, MD, and colleagues at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York presented results in 1112 men who underwent RALP by a single surgeon. Of the study population, 870 patients had a low body mass index (BMI; <30) and
242 patients had a high BMI (≥30). The results showed similar perioperative, pathologic, oncologic, and functional outcomes in the two groups. Continence and potency rates were also similar. Samadi noted that surgeons have voiced concern that obese patients might develop worse outcomes than nonobese patients because surgery is technically more challenging in this population. “Surgeons should approach these cases with more confidence,” he said.
Breast Cancer Patients Prefer “Buddy System” to Photographs When Discussing Reconstruction BARCELONA—Women with breast cancer say they would rather meet with other patients who have undergone breast reconstructive surgery than view clinical photographs before they decide on the particulars of their procedure, new data show. Clinical photographs are the surgeons’ preferred method for showing patients preoperatively the outcomes of various types of breast reconstruction. Anushka Chaudhry, MD, with
Frenchay Breast Care Centre in Bristol, United Kingdom, interviewed 30 women who were planning to undergo reconstructive procedures at her institution. All patients were seen at the center’s dedicated breast reconstruction clinic. In addition to viewing clinical photographs of their surgeon’s breast reconstruction procedures, patients were offered the opportunity to meet face-to-face with other women who had undergone similar procedures or talk to them by telephone or e-mail. Contact between the women was made by the breast cancer nurse. Twenty-five women reported that they preferred meeting other patients to “simply seeing clinical photographs.” The other five women said that they, too, preferred meeting other women who had undergone reconstructive surgery but that contact by phone or e-mail was best for them. “A key part of the decision-making process is support, and patients are often the best advocates for others at this time of great personal anguish,” Chaudhry said. She reported the findings at the Seventh European Breast Cancer Conference. ●
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Is It Time to Jump on the Credit Union Bandwagon? By Eileen Koutnik-Fotopoulos
A
re you tired of the poor interest rates your bank is offering? Have you had it with bank fees? Are you worried your bank could fail? Perhaps, it’s time you consider switching to a credit union. More than 90 million Americans belong to a credit union, according to the Credit Union National Association. A credit union is a financial cooperative that offers a wide array of services similar to those offered by banks, such as checking and saving accounts, credit cards with low interest rates and low or no annual fees, and loans. Nowadays, membership is not limited to specialized groups because the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has relaxed its regulations on joining. NCUA is an indepedent federal organization that supervises and charters credit unions, as well as insures participants’ savings. Each credit union serves what is called their “field of mem-
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bership”—that is the commonality between the members, according to NCUA. You may be eligible to join a credit union based on your: • Employer—many employers sponsor their own credit unions • Geographic location—many credit unions serve anyone who lives in a particular geographic area • Family—most credit unions allow members’ families to join • Membership in a group, such as a church, labor union, school, or alumni. Here are some advantanges of belonging to a credit union: • Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations. The profits incurred by the credit union directly benefit its members, and NCUA insures deposits up to $250,000. • The biggest distinction between credit unions and banks is that credit unions are owned and run by
its members. Therefore, if you have an account with a credit union, you are a member and owner. As a member, you have a say in how the credit union is run and can vote on a board of directors. • Interest rates, for example, on car loans, mortgages, and money market accounts, are often attractively low. Credit unions can offer these lower interest rates because they are exempted from most state and federal income taxes. Additionally, credit unions are in a better position to lend money because they are not as tangled up in the subprime credit crisis, compared with commercial banks. • Fees can be fewer and lower. Customer fees generated by banks help generate profits. Credit unions, however, charge nominal fees or no fees at all for many of their services.
• Minimum balance requirements are low. Most credit unions require a deposit of $5 to $25 to join, open an account, and be eligible for free checking. Banks, however, typically require a larger deposit to open an account and often require a minimum balance for free checking. If you decide to join a credit union, keep in mind that you may have limited access to branch offices and automated teller machines (ATMs). However, many credit unions have formed a network of “shared branch” locations throughout the country that members can use without incurring ATM fees. Before opening an account, visit your credit union’s website for ATM locations. It is also a good idea to talk with your credit union to make sure you have a full understanding of their services. To learn more about whether a credit union is right for you, visit NCUA’s website at www.ncua.gov. ●
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