Tag: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

WHY SCREENING IS SO IMPORTANT

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, NHS Lothian spoke with Carrie Murdoch, Health Promotion Specialist for SE Scotland Breast Screening, to learn more about the vital role of breast screening and what to expect during a screening appointment:

Why is Breast screening so important?

In Scotland, breast screening saves around 130 lives each year.

Mammograms can detect tiny cancers when they are at an early stage, often when they are too small to see or feel. The earlier Breast Cancer is found the easier it is to treat.

How do you prepare for a Breast Screening Appointment?

It’s best to wear a skirt or trousers as you will be asked to undress from the waist up.

Please do not wear talcum powder or spray or deodorant before the screening as this can interfere with the image.

What happens during a Breast Screening Appointment?

Breast Screening uses x-rays called Mammograms to check your breasts for signs of cancer.

A female mammographer will position one breast at a time between two plates and the machine will take two x-rays of each.

Having your breast pressed between the plates can be uncomfortable, but it is only for a very short time. You can ask to stop at any point if you feel too much discomfort, and the mammographer will work with you to adjust your position.

The breast screening appointment usually takes around 10 minutes from start to finish and the mammogram x-ray itself takes barely a minute.

What age and when will you be invited for your breast screening appointment?

We screen women from 50-70 years old. Don’t worry if your appointment doesn’t arrive on your 50th birthday as each GP practice takes part in a screening programme every 3 years. Because of this you may not receive an invitation until you are 53.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy being able to connect to our clients and offer support to participate in the screening service. It’s rewarding to work with colleagues to promote breast screening and inform women about how they can look after their health. 

Make 2nds Count: Ignorance of secondary breast cancer – a deadly lack of knowledge  

Two-fifths of UK population are unaware of the condition killing 1,000 women and men every month 

 Astonishingly, just under two-fifths of the adult population in the UK are ignorant about secondary breast cancer, a new survey shows. 

The disease killed former Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding last month yet according to a YouGov poll just three weeks later, 38% of those questioned say they don’t know what secondary breast cancer is. 

Furthermore, 21% are aware of this form of cancer, but oblivious of any signs or symptoms indicating the spread of the incurable disease. 

The survey, to coincide with October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was commissioned by Make 2nds Count, a patient and family-focused charity dedicated to giving hope to women and men living with secondary breast cancer. 

Emma Hall, Head of Fundraising and Engagement at Make 2nds Count, says: “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK but despite all the coverage of the sad passing of Sarah Harding, what has not been clear is that she had secondary breast cancer.  And that lack of knowledge is borne out by the results of our poll. Saying it’s unusual or rare or she was unlucky losing her battle doesn’t apply to secondary breast cancer. 

“There are about 35,000 people in the UK currently living with the disease and 1,000 lose their lives every month. The coverage has focused on checking for primary breast cancer, but not secondary, so people are not being informed about the different signs and symptoms to look for. We need more education, support and research, and understanding that with secondary breast cancer you won’t be cured, you can only be treated.” 

The poll, of 2113 UK adults carried out at the end of September, also showed that 44% of respondents think that young women – those aged 15-39 – have the best chance of survival. But breast cancer in young women can be more aggressive and it’s actually the 60-69 age group who live longer after diagnosis. 

Edinburgh mum Lisa Fleming, 38, Founder of Make 2nds Count, knew nothing about secondary breast cancer more than four years ago when, without any warning signs, she learned she had primary and secondary breast cancer. It had already spread to the majority of her bones and a few months later spread to her brain.  

She had no previous breast cancer diagnosis and no lump. She is still living with the death sentence and founded Make 2nds Count to raise awareness of secondary breast cancer. 

She says: “We desperately need people to be aware of this forgotten form of breast cancer. We need to change the narrative, raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this disease and in turn save lives.” 

Capital charity team to give ‘Ten Thousand Gifts’ during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Jennifer Young, alongside Make 2nds Count, is gifting 10,000 skincare products from her Beauty Despite Cancer range in support of UK cancer patients and small charities from the local area and beyond throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

Over the past few weeks, the organisation has been asking people to nominate their favourite small charities, hospices and cancer support groups, through which they will give away the natural products.

Those being treated for, living with or recovering from cancer will know finding the right skincare can be an additional source of anxiety during an already trying time. Finding products that can help to calm the side effects that some cancer treatments may have on the skin can be difficult, especially given the increased skin sensitivity chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause. 


Recent Challenges

Recent Macmillan research found that 91% of cancer patients suffer a loss of income, causing stress and mental health issues. With the current pandemic also affecting the job market across the region, this can be an even more distressing prospect to those going through treatment.

The ‘Ten Thousand Gifts’ project not only supports those most affected by cancer poverty by providing them with skincare which is of significant benefit during treatment, but also spreads joy in the form of receiving gifts which lifts mood and increases emotional health and wellbeing.

Additionally, many charities’ fundraising efforts have been affected by the restrictions enlisted to prevent spread of the coronavirus. ‘Ten Thousand Gifts’ will not only provide those who deserve it with luxury products but will raise awareness for charitable causes across the region. 

The Company 

Jennifer realised her passion for working with cancer patients when her local NHS hospital invited her to meet those going through treatment. Since then, Jennifer has created more than 300 specialist products to calm the effects of cancer treatment on the skin, available through BeautyDespiteCancer.com. The Midlands-based company is now known for its pioneering development of new products that are gentle and luxurious. 

The Giveaway

Products included in the giveaway are the Defiant Beauty Nail Oil (4g) and the Defiant Beauty Healing Hand Balm (15g). The Defiant Beauty Nail Oil is a gentle, moisturising oil designed to care for brittle nails caused by the effects of cancer treatment. Meanwhile, the Defiant Beauty Healing Hand Balm is a gentle multi-tasking balm that acts as a hand mask, nail moisturiser and a hand cream to soothe and restore the skin.


Jennifer said: “Everything we do at Jennifer Young and Beauty Despite Cancer, is about supporting individuals each day of their cancer experience. Reducing skin irritation and soreness, creating nurturing rituals from everyday routines and giving a sense of restoration are invaluable when you’re experiencing something as challenging as cancer and cancer treatment.

” Knowing that options are available and that you are not alone, can make a huge difference to how someone feels. Local and national independent charities, hospices and support organisations are incredibly important in delivering that message of care and community, which is why we aim to provide sustainable support to them as well in the work that we do.

“It is important to us that the charities we help are those that reflect the experiences of our customers, and this month is an opportunity to celebrate that connected support network between products, charities and clients.”

Francesca Arbury, Charity Service Manager for Something To Look Forward To, says: “It’s amazing for people to receive things that will boost their emotional health, make them look and feel better but also because we know as a charity how badly people have been affected by the pandemic, and especially the cancer community.

“With delays and cancellations, screenings, treatments and surgery, a lot of strain has been put on people, they are scared and are feeling low. More than that finances may be tough and life’s little luxuries that some people may see it as, may no longer be affordable now. So ‘Ten Thousand Gifts’ is going to be so popular!”

You can watch the full video, and hear other testimonials here.