Health

Reporting Back about Breast and Genitalia Cancer Awareness

Blowing the Myths concerning Breast Cancer
A Parent-Carer who has come through the battle with breast
  cancer kindly gave a follow up talk at our pp4danBarnet Meeting
  on Thursday 8 December 2011 about the misconceptions that we
  may ‘hide behind’ about breast cancer. This was a personal
  account after the excellent information session on Breast and
  Genitalia Cancer Awareness given by a Barnet Nurse..

It may be that 1 in 10 women get Breast Cancer. We are told that one is more likely to get breast cancer if they are overweight, smoke, drink alcohol, or it is genetic with other family members diagnosed. It is thought that Stress may be another main factor. Yet our Parent-Carer is not overweight, has never smoked, no other member of her family has had breast cancer, although she does enjoy the occasional glass of wine. How one proves that Stress is a factor is another matter, but we Parent-Carers are subject to continuous stress with always labouring to get the correct provision for our children and young people with a disability and additional needs.

  We were told that one can get breast cancer a month after having a
  mammogram, and one is only given a mammogram after the age of
  fifty, and then only every three years. Indeed a mammogram involves
  a high dose of radiation and in rare cases one could get breast
  cancer from having a mammogram. But it is still advised. Also
  treatment again may be down to post code lottery.

This Mum generously shared her experiences of going through
  treatment and talked and showed us aids used during and after the
  treatment. We were told that every person’s experiences may differ,
  and of course the professionals involved will be there at all times to
  advise.

We were told that early detection and intervention is vital as if left the cancer can spread around the body causing secondary cancers and then treatment is then so much more difficult, far more intensive and intrusive, with less chance of success.

We are very grateful to this Mum and thank her for speaking so openly about her experience. Her mission is simple and that is to prevent others from having to go through what she has if it can be prevented. It is not rocket science to appreciate early detection will not only help the family from the unthinkable, but will keep costs down and the authorities happy as they keep telling us that they do not have the cash to provide support for the family or treatment for the person with cancer! This Mum reported that IPOP gave a fantastic support service to her family, but although promised the authorities failed to put an Emergency Care Plan in place.

pp4danBarnet will enable a platform to continue raising awareness about
any issue affecting our Parent-Carers and families health. We are equal
partners which is why it is as important to include Partner’s health and talk
among other things about genitalia cancer and shown how partners can help each other. pp4danBarnet has planned a Workshop on Emergency Care
  Plans and Stress Management as advertised on our Welcome page.