Campaigners wanting to buy state-of-the-art equipment which will revolutionise the treatment of breast cancer are urging anyone who is concerned they may have symptoms to see their doctor.
The Herts Advertiser and its sister title, the Watford Observer, is supporting the West Herts Hospitals Charity’s campaign to raise £200,000 to buy two Savi Scout surgical guidance systems, which use radar technology to precisely target and remove cancerous tissue.
These will be based in the breast unit at St Albans City Hospital, where patients from across West Herts – including the St Albans area – are treated for the disease.
To learn more about the appeal and make a donation, visit https://raisewestherts.org.uk/ appeals/beatcancer/.
The appeal is set to be boosted by the proceeds from a 11-mile fundraising walk on Sunday.
Starting at Watford General Hospital, the Titty Trail will follow the Abbey Line trail, taking participants from Watford Junction through scenic countryside to St Albans Abbey and finishing at St Albans City Hospital.
Registration starts at 8am and anyone wishing to take part can sign up on the day.
Full details can be found at https://raisewestherts.org.uk/titty-trail/
As well as raising money, the trust’s Macmillan breast and gynae team leader Nathalie Lewis wants the Savi Scout appeal to increase breast awareness.
She offers the following advice to women on carrying out regular checks and what to look out for.
“I'd say monthly, put a date in your diary and just be aware if you are menstruating your breasts can get quite lumpy around that time of the month, so usually it’s good to choose a date after your period to examine your breasts,” Nathalie said.
“Stand in front of the mirror and have a look at the size and shape of your breasts – are they the same as they usually are?
“Raise your arms and have a look.
“Apply a mixture of light and firm pressure in a circular motion all around your breast, under your armpit and up to your collarbone.
“You are looking for a lump or swelling in the breast, chest or armpit. A change in the skin, if there’s any dimpling or redness, a change in size or shape of one or both breasts.
“Other symptoms to look out for include nipple discharge – sometimes it can be bloody. The appearance of the nipple – sometimes it can look like there’s eczema or a rash. Or sores or ulcers on the chest. And anything that isn’t normal for you really. Don’t sit on it. Get it checked out at the GP.”
Although instances are rare, men can also get breast cancer. What should they check for?
“The same principles really,” Nathalie said. “They have less breast tissue than women so it’s important that we find these quickly.”
Consultant breast surgeon Lee Min Lai added: “The cancers are easier to find in men but because men don’t automatically think they can get breast cancer, they may not make that connection.
“As with women, if they find any lumps in their breasts they need to come forward and get them checked.”
Nathalie manages a team of breast and gynae nurses and a key part of their role is to provide psychological support to patients from the moment they are diagnosed.
“Not every woman wants to sit and talk about their feelings,” she said. “I think we just have to establish that connection and see what they want from us.
“We see the patient from new diagnosis and do a holistic needs assessment. We look at what other things might be worrying them. It’s not just the breast cancer, it’s what their lifestyle is like, what are their coping mechanisms, are they worried about getting sick leave, are they worried they won’t be able to work. There’s so many different combinations that can possibly come out of any conversation.
“There’s childcare, body image - it doesn’t matter about age, body image is really important throughout a woman’s life. If they’ve got other comorbidities, how that fits in with their breast cancer diagnosis. If they’re younger and they’ve not had children, there’s so many different things to support there.
“We just have to pick those out and support the patient as best we can.”
Lee Min explained: “We call Nathalie or one of her colleagues when we’ve identified a breast cancer patient. We introduce Nathalie and her team very early on so they can do the holistic needs assessment.
"These are the things we don’t talk about in a ten-minute or so clinical appointment but once we identify there’s a cancer it literally opens up a can of worms and that’s where Nathalie and her team come in.
“All that social background is not immediately relevant to me but it will be as that patient goes along that treatment and surgical pathway. That’s all going to have to be factored in and whether they can attend certain appointments. It’s a very busy job being a patient, so my patients tell me.”
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