Day 12 – 1st June 2010 Going from Gorran to a place called Place
Set off in miserable weather which fortunately improved through the day. However the going remained especially difficult (and dangerous in places) as much of this section of coast path is very overgrown making the path very difficult to see – unnerving when a 250 foot drop is just to one side; so slow progress until meeting team at Gerrans Bay, Porthscatho, St, Anthony Head and finally at the ferry point at Place. The ‘auld leg’ was still very painful so seemed a good time to see our friend of 20 years – Peter Smith – both in a social and professional capacity. Peter and Gabi kindly prepared a lovely meal for us as well as applying his considerable skills to my muscle pain in my thigh. (This uses ‘Gentle Muscle Release’ – also known as Hyperton-X. Skilful application of this technique actually frees muscles that are too tight – but without pain! In my case it was a case of no pain/plenty gain!} Peter lives south of Truro and can be contacted via pcksmith@talktalk.net and www.pcksmith.com He is a gentleman in every sense of the word. Finally we spent the night at Carnon Downs Campsite – again at a special discounted price. Bad paths and poorly leg meant only about 22 miles today.
Day 13 – 2nd June 2010 Falmouth to Kennack Sands
Team dropped me in Falmouth near to ferry point from Place. Set off at a good pace in fine warm weather as leg feeling good at first! Got to Helford Passage in less than 2 hours where I was met by friends Sharon and Richard! They had arranged to take me across to Helford in their boat! Sharon then ran with me for about 3 miles to St Anthony where there was another river crossing to negotiate at Gillan Creek. As tide was too high for me to wade across Sharon used both her considerable charms and local knowledge to encourage Des to take me across in his boat – a great guy who even ensured I didn’t get my feet wet! Sharon then ran back to Helford whilst I continued on before meeting up with team at Porthoustock and Coverack. Finally ended day slowly (leg still quite painful but Peter’s exercises proving very useful.) at Kennack Sands. Today’s mileage about 28. Then just a mile or so inland to Chy-Carn campsite – where John and Ro had already set up on our free pitch for the night. So many people we meet seem so grateful for our efforts for Cancer Research. Other highlight for today was passing the half way point in 13 days – now 323 miles completed and 307 to do! (But am still concerned me’ old leg may suffer on the more strenuous north coast ... No country for soft men.)
Day 14 – 3rd June 2010 Kennack Sands to Marazion
A Long Limp round the Lizard! Very warm day again – Team first met me at the Lizard – the most southerly point of mainland Britain where Ro and John had been talking to Kat – the lovely RSPB rep who was caring for the resident Choughs, followed by Coverack Quay. Also saw them at Poldhu – where Marconi’s first Atlantic radio message was sent in December 1901! (I am now using the free Wi-Fi in the Godolphin Hotel in Marazion) Got my best welcome when the Borg family and friends joined forces with John and Ro at Praa Sands-all wearing the special Iansbigrun T-shirts! Final leg (in more ways than one!) took me to B&B Chynoweth in uptown Marazion where Peter and Sue has made us most welcome. Will finish now as my Lasagne has just arrived – so it’s good night from me and them! –Oh I forgot – just over 30 miles covered today albeit in slow time.
Way to go, Ian! When your thigh really hurts, think of this article as well...
ReplyDeleteBreast cancer vaccine to go on trial within a year - All women over 40 could be given a jab that prevents them getting breast cancer, a scientist has claimed.
By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent for The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Published: 7:40PM BST 30 May 2010
The drug, which goes on trial within a year, has been shown to stop tumours ever appearing and also to attack those that are already present.
If successful, researchers say GPs could offer it to women before they reach their mid-40s, when the risk of breast cancer starts to rise steeply.
Dr Vincent Tuohy, the jab's creator, said it promised to offer "substantial protection" and raised the prospect of wiping out the disease altogether.
"We truly believe that a preventive breast cancer vaccine will do to breast cancer what the polio vaccine has done to polio," he said.
"We think it will provide substantial protection."Our view is that breast cancer is a completely preventable disease."
The vaccine is based on protein called alpha-lactalbumin that lurks in most breast cancer tumours.
In tests on mice bred to develop breast cancers by the age of 10 months, the drug was found to keep them free of tumours, the journal Nature Medicine reports.
The jab stimulates the immune system, priming it to destroy alpha-lactalbumin as it appears, and so stopping tumours from forming.
The drug also harnessed the power of the immune system to shrink pre-existing tumours by up to half, suggesting it could be used as a treatment as well as a vaccine.
Effective cancer vaccines have proved notoriously difficult to make, not least because tumour cells are strikingly similar to healthy tissues.
A poorly-designed cancer vaccine could easily turn the immune system against other parts of the body and cause more harm than good, while another problem is that many cancers weaken the immune system as they grow.
But as the protein targeted by the new drug is only found in healthy breasts when they are producing milk, the jab should specifically target diseased cells, leaving other tissue untouched.
Dr Tuohy, of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, said: "Tumours are like drunks in a bar, saying and doing things they shouldn't and one of these things is expressing (making) alpha-lactalbumin and we are taking advantage of that."
Finding similar proteins for other cancers, such as bowel or prostate tumours, could lead to vaccines against other diseases.
Dr Tuohy hopes the test the jab on women for the first time next year.
One trial would look at its ability to shrink tumours in women with advanced breast cancer and few other treatment options.
Another would involve young women whose family history puts them at high risk of the disease.
The trials would focus on how safe the jab is and what sort of doses should be given.
The need for longer studies on bigger numbers of women mean it will be at least 10 years before the jab hits the market.
Dr Caitlin Palframan, of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "This research could have important implications for how we might prevent breast cancer in the future.
"However, this is an early stage study, and we look forward to seeing the results of large scale clinical trials to find out if this vaccine would be safe and effective in humans.
"Crucially, there are already things that women can do to reduce their breast cancer risk including reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight and taking regular exercise."
In 2007, 45,700 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and around 1,000 lives are lost a month.
Well I'm feeling a bit peeky just reading your blog or maybe I'm saving energy for comig to see you next week and maybe run for 5mins! Don't be silly will you, don't get dizzy and lots of suncream!
ReplyDeleteSammyXXXX