October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Colleagues across the Trust have been hosting ‘Wear it Pink’ events to help raise much needed funds for breast cancer research.
The Royal Lanc
aster Infirmary (RLI) Breast Screening Unit was pleased to welcome two local Members of Parliament (MP) to their ‘Wear It Pink’ event. Lizzi Collinge MP who represents Morecambe and Lunesdale and Cat Smith MP, who represents Lancaster and Wyre, were hosted by the unit and given a tour of its facilities.
The Breast Services at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust (UHMBT), offer both routine screening and symptomatic services. Routine screening is offered to all women aged 50-70 years old and is hugely important toward catching breast cancer as early as possible.
Carol Brearley, Macmillan Breast Care Specialist led the tour. Carol also introduced our guests to Dr Rishi Parmeshwar, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, Dr Olga Shaw, Consultant Radiologist and Helen Smith, Consultant Breast Radiographer. When speaking about the visit Carol said:
“It was so good to have Lizzi and Cat taking time from their busy schedules to visit the Breast Care Unit.
“They were both very interested and supportive of the unit and hopefully this can be the start of a long-term relationship with them both to help get the support and resources we need.”
As well as learning about the service, the MPs were also keen to find out what the Breast Services team needed. Colleagues spoke at length about the need for more space and technological developments, which the local representatives agreed with wholeheartedly and reaffirmed their desire to get the New Hospitals Programme bid over the line. However, with the visit happening as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the conversation remained rooted in the importance of the breast screening service and the life changing effects it can have for those that use it.
Speaking after her visit Cat said: “I’d like to thank all the staff at the Breast Screening Unit for their work. Every day they support their patients through often difficult times often without all the resources they would like in an ideal world.
“I’m happy to support the unit and will use my voice in Parliament to champion their work and encourage everyone to check their breasts and contact a health professional if they have any concerns."
‘Wear It Pink’ events like this are vital toward bringing an end to a disease that affects over 600,000 people, with over 55,000 people being diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. The money the Breast Screening Unit have raised will aid lifesaving research and help toward achieving the goal that everyone diagnosed with breast cancer lives and is supported to live well by 2050. Find out more information about breast cancer research and what the donations are funding here.
As well as raising much needed funds, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is also crucial toward educating each of us of the signs and the support that is available.
Speaking about her visit Lizzi said: “It was fantastic to visit the hardworking staff at the RLI Breast Screening Unit, where they both offer screening and see pe
ople with symptoms that could possibly be breast cancer.
“I’d urge everyone to attend screening when invited and to know the symptoms and get them checked out. The majority of symptoms won’t be cancer but if it is, then catching it early makes it much easier to treat.”
It is important that we know how to check for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Now have put together a really useful set of instructions on what the symptoms are and how to check for them which can be accessed here.
If you would like to donate, or would like more information about breast cancer and the support available please visit: www.breastcancernow.org