Throughout October we at Breast Cancer Care have been encouraging people to liven up their Friday afternoons by organising a fun pink activity at work or home!
To support the 50,000 people who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK, we have been encouraging people nationwide to take part in our Pink Friday fundraising campaign. The campaign is to help fund vital services, such as our helpline, information points in hospitals and support groups for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Even a small donation can make a big difference to someone who has received the devastating news that they have breast cancer. For example,
£2 pays for a headscarf set, helping to boost the confidence of someone who has lost their hair as a result of cancer treatment.
£10 pays to provide a comprehensive, easy-to-understand information pack for someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer.
£23 pays for a call to our helpline for information on any aspect of diagnosis and treatment as well as confidential and sensitive support. Taking as much time as a caller needs, conversations can last more than an hour.
To highlight the campaign, Dr Emma Pennery, Clinical Director for Breast Cancer Care and one of the UK's leading breast cancer clinical nurse specialists gives the stats, facts and her breast awareness tips.
She said: "There's no right or wrong way to check your breasts. Try to get used to looking at and feeling your breasts regularly. Remember to check all parts of your breast, your armpits and up to your collarbone.
"The changes you should look and feel for are changes in size, shape or in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling. Other things to look our for include inverted nipples, a lump or thickening of breast tissue, redness or a rash on the skin/around the nipple, discharge from one or both nipples, constant pain in breast or armpit, swelling in armpit/around collarbone.
"The best way to be breast aware is to follow the five point code. These are five easy steps. Nobody knows your breasts like you do, so you're the best person to notice any changes to them.
Being breast aware is easy - just follow these five simple steps below.
1. Know what is normal for you
2. Know what to look and feel for
3. Look and feel
4. Tell your GP about any changes straightaway
5. Go for breast screening when invited
Department of Heath 2009
The facts
• The biggest risk factor, after gender, is increasing age - 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50
• More people are being diagnosed with breast cancer but survival rates are improving - probably as a result of improved treatment and earlier detection
• Breast cancer also affects men, but it is rare - around 300 men are diagnosed each year.
The stats
• Around 50,000 new cases of invasive and non-invasive (DCIS)* breast cancer are diagnosed cancer each year in the UK. That's one person every 10 minutes.
• Just over 12,000 people die from breast cancer in the UK every year (does not include DCIS mortality figures).
• Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death from cancer for women in the UK, after lung cancer.
• There are an estimated 550,000 people living in the UK today who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer (does not include DCIS incidence figures).
• In women under the age of 35, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer.
* Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an early form of breast cancer, sometimes described as an intraductal or non-invasive cancer.
Getting involved with Pink Fridays is easy to do and can include anything from a tea break in the office with pink food and drinks, to a pink pamper party with your mates at home.
Why not...
Get everyone at school, college or work dressed in a pink wig, hat or feather boa - or even all three!
Host a pink pamper night for the girls (and boys!) at your home - try pink make-up, manicures or face masks
Bake some pink cupcakes and sell them to your friends or colleagues - for a really simple recipe go to www.breastcancercare.org.uk/pinkfridays
Register now for a free Pink Fridays fundraising kit, full of party ideas and fundraising tips. Visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk/pinkfridays or call 0870 164 9422.
For free, confidential support and information visit
www.breastcancercare.org.uk or call our Helpline on 0808 800 6000.