36 minute read
MORE THAN JUST A PINK RIBBON
FUNDRAISING
IT’S MORE THAN It unites us A RIBBON
THIS YEAR WE HAVE LEARNED TO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE. THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES’ BREAST CANCER CAMPAIGN HAS NEVER BEEN MORE APPROPRIATE...
Beauty writer Emma Guns, Global Ambassador of The Estée Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Campaign Elizabeth Hurley, Dr Zoe Williams and GIRLvsCANCER’s Lauren Mahon
What an extraordinary year 2020 has been. As the global pandemic has touched every part of our lives, we have experienced feelings of fear, isolation and lack of control.
Which is why this October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, it is more important than ever for everyone to come together and unite against this disease. This unity is important, not just for those diagnosed, but for friends, families and loved ones, too.
As always, The Estée Lauder Companies are at the forefront with their international message #TimeToEndBreastCancer and their key message – ‘It’s more than a ribbon. It unites us’.
The iconic pink ribbon was borne out of two women’s desire to unite and inspire people to create a breast cancer-free world.
The late Evelyn H Lauder joined forces with her great friend Alexandra Penney, then editor-in-chief of Self magazine, to create the symbol. They used it to make patients’ and survivors’ visible and their voices heard.
That was back in 1992 and, since then, it has become a globally-recognised symbol. Evelyn’s vision was for it to unite people through a common pink thread. Today, whether it is worn as a brooch, lipsticked on a hand, or sent in a social media post, it is a message that is understood worldwide.
The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign is not just about creating awareness and giving women and men a space to discuss their health.
Most importantly, the campaign has also raised an incredible $89 million (£68 million) for global life-saving research, education and medical services.
Through its Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 293 medical research grants
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LUNCH: Actress Amanda Mealing, Bake Off’s Prue Leith, actress Fay Ripley and broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire
have been funded. And, despite the fact that breast cancer is still the most common cancer in women worldwide, progress has most certainly been made.
In America, for example, breast cancer mortality rates have decreased by 40% among women since the late 1980s. But sadly it is increasing in developing countries, where the majority of cases are only diagnosed in the late stages. Every 15 seconds, somewhere in the world, a woman is diagnosed.
Actress and businesswoman Elizabeth Hurley has dedicated herself to being the Global Ambassador of The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign.
– ELIZABETH HURLEY
‘Being a part of the movement to end breast cancer is my most meaningful work,’ says Elizabeth.
‘With people around the world still being diagnosed with breast cancer every minute of every day, the disease remains a challenge that we are dedicated to.
‘I joined Evelyn to work on the campaign shortly after she started it in the early in 1990s, when women still did not talk openly about the disease. She would be so proud of how far we have come and the positive impact we have had.’
Elizabeth says she has seen the tremendous progress made through the research that has been funded.
‘But I’ve spoken to many leaders in the field who all tell me the same thing – that we must continue to fund research to advance science, treatments, and care, to bring us closer to a cure,’ she adds.
‘Evelyn had a vision and knew that long-term impact would be the result of our collective actions. I am honoured to wear the pink ribbon proudly and be a small part of the global community that is driven to end this disease once and for all.’
While every experience of breast cancer is individual, scientific research, awareness and support is something to be shared. Estée Lauder Companies is committed to spreading the word in local communities as well as on the world stage. Meanwhile, Future Dreams and The Estée Lauder Companies have both been working closely with Leanne Pero, the breast cancer campaigner who has set up Black Women Rising.
‘There is a higher mortality rate for BAME women diagnosed with breast cancer,’ explains Leanne, who was diagnosed four years ago. ‘We need to make more women in the black and Asian communities aware of the symptoms so they can seek treatment earlier.
‘We are thrilled to have had support from Estée Lauder Companies to amplify our voice in these communities. It is so important that everyone comes together – women and men – to support each other with the common goal of finding a cure.’
SHOW US YOUR PINK RIBBON AND SHARE WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU
Use the hashtags #TimeToEndBreastCancer and #ELCdonates and join us in supporting the global breast cancer community. Because it’s always been more than a ribbon.
For every public, in-feed Instagram or Facebook post during the month of October featuring both #TimeToEndBreastCancer and #ELCdonates together, @esteelaudercompanies will donate $25 to @bcrfcure up to $100,000.
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you?BUT HOW ARE
Watching the woman or man you love deal with a diagnosis of breast cancer is heartbreaking and why Future Dreams has started our Partner’s Perspective project. We want to bring together other halves who are doing their best to be there every step of the way and to acknowledge it is okay to struggle
In the same way that nothing prepares you for being given a breast cancer diagnosis, nothing prepares you for seeing the one you love receive the shattering news.
Every relationship is different and some spouses handle it better than others. While some find it hard to cope and even go missing in action, others step up, becoming an emotional sponge and practical life organiser. But it can be tough trying to be everyone’s rock when you are quaking inside.
Many partners dismiss their pain, believing they shouldn’t be having problems. They aren’t the one with the disease, after all. However, watching your loved one struggling physically and emotionally when you are not sure what to do for the best, brings huge challenges.
Breast Cancer Haven (breastcancerhaven.org.uk) offers counselling for partners and it is a service that will be offered at Future Dreams House.
Future Dreams ambassador and photographer Paul Toeman has worked at many of our fundraising events and wanted to understand exactly what the other halves were going through. He photographed couples in his studio in north London and, pandemic permitting, hopes to launch an exhibition of the images for Valentine’s Day next year. Our case studies will include same sex couples as well as men and women who have, or have had, the disease. Every couple is different – but many of their feeling are similar.
Here some of the couples tell their story...
Eddy and Julia
Eddy Edwards, 50, has been with his wife Julia for 17 years and they have two sons, aged 14 and nine. Julia’s breast cancer diagnosis has made him wake up and grow up, he says.
‘If I’m honest I could be a bit selfish before. The whole experience has made us closer and made me think more about being a dad and a husband. I’d be very interested in how many partners have taken up the offer of counselling. If you haven’t been through this you don’t realise what it’s like. As a couple you have to keep communicating, talking to each other and exploring how you feel. Men can feel really alone and their wives can feel really alone too, even though you are living in the same house together. You have to talk to each other.
‘Cancer isn’t funny but it is true there are an awful lot of funny things that have happened to us. We have laughed less this second time though. It has been so much harder for both of us.
‘When Julia was diagnosed the first time I took pride in being calm, of being the support act for her. She was diagnosed again earlier this year and it has been a struggle to remain calm. I feel I have been less effective. I have to jolt myself sometimes – Julia is going through so much and I ask why am the one feeling sorry for myself? Cancer has become so dominant in both our lives but you just have to get on with it. The thing is, I have never met anyone who makes things happen in life like Julia does.’
Kreena and Satty
Kreena and Satty Dhiman became parents this summer to beautiful triplet boys. Kreena was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.
Chemotherapy pushed Kreena into early menopause and the couple embarked on an emotional journey of fertility treatments, egg freezing and a hunt for suitable surrogate mothers. Kreena also nearly died as a result of a rare reaction to one of her treatments. Since then she has created an award-winning podcast and is enjoying life as a mum as well as a successful career in the finance industry. Their sons Anaayan, Arvaarn, Aanav and daughter Amaala, two, have brought them even closer but their relationship has faced many pressures as a result of Kreena’s breast cancer diagnosis.
‘I just knew I had to do my part as a husband,’ says Satty.
He has been there for Kreena every step of the way, and it was Satty who insisted she went to the doctor when she noticed her left nipple was inverted.
‘We had been married three years, been travelling, bought our house and planning a family was the next thing we wanted to do,’ says Kreena. ‘I can remember coming out of the consultant’s and looking at him. He was crying and I started to cry, too.
‘During my treatment he made me feel beautiful. He washed my hair after my mastectomy, he knew how important my hair was to me. After I lost my breast and my eyebrows he accepted me. He was always there. We are quite different but it works.
We are a unit. People say he is lucky to have a strong woman but I couldn’t do it without his support. He is there for me. He is always there.’ But Satty would not have it any other way. ‘Kreena is remarkable,’ he says. ‘I didn’t think I could love her more, but I do.’
Steve and Rachael
Steve Bland is the widower of You, Me and the Big C broadcaster Rachael Bland, who sadly died two years ago. He continues doing the podcast with Rachael’s co-presenters, Lauren Mahon and Deborah James, and is bringing up their five-year-old son, Freddie.
‘I get quite a lot of messages from women who are stage 4 incurable breast cancer, who say they get comfort from seeing that I am doing okay with Freddie and it makes them think their other halves may do so too when the time comes. I don’t think there is enough support for partners. Of course, I understand totally that the focus should be on the person with the disease but I think men are not particularly good at seeking out help. I didn’t get any help when Rachael (right) was alive, but I probably should have done. It is one of those cliches that men are not good at talking or asking for help. It is important to be proactive about it.
‘Before Rachael had cancer, if a friend or their wife had become ill I would have probably done that thing of saying, “If there is anything you need just call me, I am there for you.” I had lots of friends who did that. They were very well intentioned but the reality is you will never call them. You will never say, “I have decided I would really like a lasagne, if you could just cook it for me and drop it off, please.” But some friends did just drop off food in the porch without me asking. The people who just took it out of my hands were really helpful. One friend drove 15 miles to deliver a meal.
‘Rachael was incredible, an unbelievable mum. She was brilliant, kind and funny and we just presumed she would get well. It can put a lot of strain on a relationship trying to see positives all the time but at the same time being realistic. She wore a cold cap and managed to keep most of her hair – she had this big mane of golden hair. It was important to her and I could look at her and think she didn’t look ill and I could pretend it wasn’t happening.
‘It is important to fight to stop the cancer getting in the way of the good times.’
Adam and Meg
Adam, 44, and his wife Meg have children, Lola, 15, Rudy, six, and Meg’s daughter, Matilda, 26. The entrepreneur says he’s yet to ‘have the big cry’ since Meg’s diagnosis – but he knows it is coming...
‘When Meg found a lump in her breast she had it checked by the doctor who said it didn’t look like anything alarming but that she should have it looked at in hospital. We weren’t worried so I went to work and two and half hours later Meg phoned me in tears. I shouldn’t have let her go on her own. It nags at me massively but we didn’t think it was anything serious. I drove to collect her as quickly as I could. There was so much going through my head. I just wanted to be there for her.
‘I’m lucky I run my own business. It would have been much harder if I had a nine-to-five job. We have good friends and relatives around and we are a very close family and talk about everything. There have been a few tough moments – the toughest was finding out her diagnosis. I haven’t had the big cry yet, but I know at some point I need to let it out.
‘Meg is tough, she just gets on with everything and I have so much admiration for her. She makes people feel good about themselves. Her diagnosis has made me realise how much she has been an agent of change in my life. For the first time I’m asking myself where we will be in five years time, where will we live?
‘After going through this together you don’t want to be just doing stuff and going through life without thinking.’
www.phase-eight.com
MY PLAN IS TO BE HERE a lot longer yet
A POSITIVE MINDSET, A ‘LET’S JUST DO IT!’ ATTITUDE, AND A JOB SHE LOVES HAS HELPED MARY HUCKLE DEAL WITH A SECONDARY BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS. HERE SHE PASSES ON SOME OF THE LESSONS SHE HAS LEARNED...
Mary, 54, discovered she had secondary breast cancer in July 2014, seven years after her primary diagnosis. always been fit and healthy. I’m a
I call the seven years that I was cancer free, my seven-year itch... and then came the diagnosis.
I’ll be honest, it was devastating because I knew it meant that I would never be cured, and that I would be on treatment for life. Initially I thought, ‘I’m in a really bad place now,’ but then as I researched more into secondary breast I was the only one with breast cancer. when you get to meet them in person.
cancer, I came to realise that although the median life expectancy is two to five years, there are some people who live for a long time after that. Last year I met someone who had been living with secondaries for 19 years.
‘That’s what I’m going to do,’ I told myself. ‘That will be me.’
I’m not superwoman. I’m realistic. Of course, I have some dark days too, but I try not to get down for long. Getting overly stressed or worried serves no purpose, causes stress and I believe can
I have been lucky. For almost 13 years I have tolerated well most of my treatments and have had quick recoveries from my various surgeries. Apart from the breast cancer, I’ve personal trainer and a Pilates instructor, and I truly believe that my job has kept me in good stead. Exercise works wonders for your state of mind, as well as your physical wellbeing.
I’m active on social media and you can find me on Twitter @mary_huckle and Instagram @maryhuckle. The emotional isolation that accompanies a diagnosis can be frightening. Before Instagram I thought Since then, I’ve made some incredible online friendships and it’s even better suppress your immune system further.
Whether you’re having a good or bad day, there’s always someone you can call upon. There’s an entire community encouraging, supporting and cheering you on. There is a unique camaraderie.
When it comes to secondary breast cancer, there’s a huge and concerning lack of awareness. I find it worrying
that some primary patients don’t want to know about secondaries, either because they’re frightened, or they haven’t been told about the red flags to look out for. I’ve been fortunate enough to have all my reoccurrences discovered early when they’ve been low-volume disease, meaning that I’ve had a good chance of dealing with them early on.
If you are diagnosed with secondaries, become your own patient advocate – do the research on your particular diagnosis. Don’t be afraid to ask your oncologist lots of questions, and make sure you are on the right treatment. Don’t just assume that your oncologist is the oracle. He or she probably consults with other oncologists all the time to check that he’s definitely taking the right course of action. Tell yourself: it’s my life, my body and my human right to know everything I need to know.
My next bit of advice would be to seek help with the mental health side of things. Twelve years ago, when I finished active treatment, I couldn’t understand why I felt so down and vulnerable – I should have been happy! I never sought counselling then, but I wish someone had checked on me, explained that it was normal to feel this way and told me how to get help. A cancer diagnosis can be just as devastating for family members and I believe they should be offered emotional help, too.
I’m now having counselling again. It’s reassuring to know that I can talk and offload onto a complete stranger, rather than burden my husband or my kids. I can cry if I need to and I know it won’t cause the counsellor upset or worry. I used to think that it meant you were failing and weak if you asked for help, but actually it means the exact opposite – that you are perceptive enough to realise something isn’t right with your mental health, and that you’re being proactive.
Being diagnosed with secondaries means facing your mortality on a regular basis, especially around scan times when you get to find out if the treatment you’re on is working. The last thing you want is to be in a state of constant anxiety. Counselling is a great complementary therapy and I highly recommend it.
A cancer diagnosis may also bring about financial issues. Money worries on top of health worries is an awful situation. So, if you do have to give up work, make sure you look into what benefits you might be entitled to.
Next, value the people around you. My husband, Phil, is my rock. Before lockdown, he accompanied me to all my oncology appointments. He never missed one. He has been so understanding and supportive all along. I am also incredibly lucky to have a brilliant network of
family, friends and even clients, who all look out for me.
Self care doesn’t have to involve a spa weekend or a holiday abroad. It could very much be about making time to just read a few pages of that book that has been sitting on the side gathering dust. It might be a walk in a green space and literally smelling the roses. Nowadays, I take more notice of the details and I’m conscious of everything around me, especially anything to do with nature or being outdoors. I live in the moment and I’m definitely thankful for all the days I feel well.
Secondary breast cancer puts your life into complete perspective. Some of the things we can worry about are so insignificant and petty. Being a personal trainer is a bit like being a counsellor and quite often my clients offload their problems on me. They might then suddenly stop midflow because they feel bad complaining about something that doesn’t compare with what I’m going through. It’s all relative, so I allow them to carry on complaining.
Eventually though, I usually tell people not sweat the small stuff. Life really is too short.
VALUE THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU: Mary with her children
WE LIVE LIFE to the max!
POSITIVE: Laura (left) and Nicky (right) want to spread awareness while offering hope to others
FINDING AND MAKING NEW FRIENDS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MANY WOMEN’S BREAST CANCER JOURNEY. FOR LAURA AND NICKY, THEIR SHARED EXPERIENCES HAVE CREATED AN EXTRAORDINARY BOND AND AN INSPIRING ORGANISATION – SECONDARY SISTERS
Laura Middleton-Hughes and Nicky Newman, both 32, have set up an inspiring online community for women like them who have been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Laura and Nicky were both told the news when they were 30. It meant letting go of some of their dreams, but together they have found new goals. We asked them to tell us about the work of Secondary Sisters and why it is so important...
What is your mission behind Secondary Sisters? Being diagnosed with incurable secondary cancer can be a dark and frightening time. Secondary Sisters is here to create a safe place to connect with other Secondary Sisters, to give an insight into what it’s like to live with the disease, and to share everything we know about learning to live with cancer.
We believe there is a lack of support and understanding. Most people think that when someone is diagnosed with cancer they will go through treatment and ‘beat’ the disease. This isn’t the case for all of us. Lack of education and awareness of secondaries means being diagnosed can be very lonely. We want to change that. No-one should face cancer alone.
Our aim is to unite the secondary cancer community to allow cancer bods, charities and brands to work together to raise awareness and increase support around the disease. How did you meet? Laura was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2016 following her primary diagnosis in 2014. Nicky was diagnosed in April 2018 with secondary breast cancer, which has spread to her bones. Both of us receive hospital treatment every three weeks, which, alongside a concoction of drugs, helps us with our side effects and keeps the cancer stable.
We first met each other at a cancer campaign and immediately connected as our stories are so similar. We were both in our early thirties, both had breast cancer in our bones and were both unable to fulfil our dreams of motherhood.
We discovered we are both gym nutters and are determined to live life to the absolute max. We met again
several months later for a girls’ day out and, over wine and cake, Secondary Sisters was born.
How have you managed to build a community of women who have been diagnosed with secondary cancer? We’ve found Instagram an incredible platform to allow us to use our voices and in return we have managed to help a huge and very lonely community come together.
Social media gives us an in-box and the ability for people to chat via comments. It is also a great tool to help us personally as we find it a form of therapy as well as an outlet. Helping others helps us in return.
And do these women get to meet one another face to face?
Before Covid-19 we managed to arrange and host our first-ever meet up and we’ll certainly be doing it again as soon as we can. We’ve received such amazing feedback from the event minded people.
It was amazing to see women being able to chat to others and to know they understood one another on every level.
What are the most common misconceptions about secondary breast cancer? That it’s curable. And, when people discover that it is not, that their life is over. It definitely isn’t – you can still live very well.
Often, they are scared the prognosis is always short. That’s not true. People can now live with secondary cancers for many years. People also assume that chemotherapy always causes hair loss but most drugs for secondary cancer do not make you lose your hair.
You sound so positive – are you like that all the time?
We wish! Of course we have down moments but we try not to let them take over. The secret to staying positive is to allow yourself to express all feelings – the good and the bad.
Who designed your brilliant and managed to create a safe space for like-
logo? Nicky came up with the double SS and Laura turned them into boobs! We had also some amazing help bringing it to life.
What’s the most important message you want to share with women in your situation? You are not alone and you can live with this disease. Take one day at a time and focus on the present.
It must have been particularly tough, being diagnosed at such a young age. It can feel trickier. We’re often the youngest people in our clinics, which makes it difficult to connect with others, but since we started Secondary Sisters we’ve found more younger cancer bods who are in the same boat as us.
We’re also of the age where a lot of our friends are getting on with life – buying houses, following exciting careers and having babies – and this can be a painful reminder of what could have been.
It’s okay though. We both have some pretty exciting living lists to be ticking off.
Check out @nicknacklou @baldbooblessandbeautiful @secondary.sisters on Instagram
stay positive list LAURA AND NICKY’S
Don't worry about the things you cannot change and focus on the present.
Let yourself have a cry. Crying is always seen as a negative emotion but we see it as a relief.
Make a list on your phone of all the things that make you happy, so that when you are having a down day you can go to your list, choose something and do it!
Make up a living list so you have things booked that you can look forward to.
Talk to your friends, family and cancer crew. We find talking helps and acts as a kind of therapy.
Get moving. Even a gentle yoga session can put your mind back on track.
Sleep. Make sure you rest and allow yourself time to heal.
FIGHTING TO STOP THE SPREAD
When breast cancer spreads around the body it is known as secondary or metastatic breast cancer and is sadly incurable. Almost every one of the 11,500 women who die each year as a result of breast cancer will have seen her cancer spread. So, we are in real need of drugs that can save lives by stopping this.
Future Dreams has in recent years supported a Breast Cancer Now research project at the University of York, led by Dr William Brackenbury (pictured above). Dr Brackenbury is trying to discover what helps breast cancer cells spread around the body – and his innovative research has the potential to bring us one step closer to being able to prevent secondary breast cancer and save lives.
The work involves testing to see if breast cancer cells generate electrical signals and if this helps them to move around the body. If Dr Brackenbury’s team is successful, its work could eventually lead to the use of drugs that stop the signals and, in turn, prevent the cells from invading other parts of the body.
The researchers have been making great progress with the project. Their experiments indicate that the levels of sodium inside cancer cells – which can lead to electrical signals – differ across the tumour. Sodium levels are higher in the cancer cells than in healthy tissue, they say. In an attempt to further understand these differences between healthy and breast cancer cells, Dr Brackenbury has also been testing drugs that can prevent the sodium from entering body tissue.
‘We know that sodium levels are higher in breast tumours than healthy tissue and they may also help breast cancer to spread around the body,’ he says.
‘However, until now there has been no method to study this outside of the clinic, meaning that we know little about how this elevated sodium occurs and what subsequent effects it may have.’
The research project was due to finish in October this year, but was severely delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most research labs in the country, Dr Brackenbury had to temporarily close his facility to meet lockdown rules. He believes the hold up will set the work back at least six months.
‘One of the major issues is how long it will take us to restart experiments and begin generating data at the point where we left off,’ he says. ‘We really don’t want to lose momentum or to let progress stall.’
The message is clear. In the search to find a way to prevent secondary cancers and to make up for lost time, researchers like Dr Brackenbury and Breast Cancer Now need your support, now more than ever.
WHEN YOU TURN THE O2 into a giant boob!
For Future Dreams ambassador and cancer survivor Helen Addis, the O2 is a boob waiting to happen. Here’s how Helen plans to lead 50 women – and one man! – up the iconic stadium to raise much-needed funds...
Helen Addis sees boobs everywhere. On Instagram as @thetittygritty, she posts pictures of boob-shaped objects to remind women to check their breasts. And so it was only a matter of time before she set the curve of London’s O2 in her sights.
Last month, ITV journalist Helen and a brave band of fundraisers were set to scale the stadium. The group included TV’s Lorraine Kelly, some 31 women who had all spotted signs of breast cancer thanks to the Change and Check campaign, and 15 women and one man with secondary cancers. This second group was led by Nicky Newman and Laura Middleton-Hughes, founders of Secondary Sisters.
But then came new lockdown laws. Unfortunately the event had to be postponed and will now take place in 2021. The good news is there’s still loads of time to get on board and sponsor the climb.
‘I was talking to Future Dreams about awareness and we came up with the idea of taking this brave group, many of whom are still having treatment, up the O2,’ says Helen. ‘It’s the perfect boob-shaped building.’
Helen, who is head of features on ITV’s Lorraine, launched Change and Check on the show after her breast cancer diagnosis. The campaign uses stickers in changing rooms to remind women to check themselves.
Lockdown has caused so many 2020 Future Dreams events to be postponed, so it is more important then ever to support those scheduled for next year. Look out for news of the climb on social media and Helen’s Instagram @thetittygritty.
Michelle Watson, 52, realised she might have breast cancer after reading a Change and Check sticker. She is one of the women planning to take on the O2 climb.
‘Just one year after my mum passed away from breast cancer, I received my own diagnosis. It was a shock as my mum’s cancer was age related and not hereditary,’ says Michelle. ‘Without seeing the Change and Check sticker I wouldn’t have recognised my own cancer. It looked totally different to Mum’s – I wasn’t aware the disease could manifest itself in so many different ways.
‘Telling my eight-year-old son was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I am now cancer clear. We kicked this as a family!
‘Thank you to Future Dreams for helping to produce those stickers. You probably saved my life.’
Following her own breast cancer journey, Maggie Walker, 75, is also taking part in the O2 event.
‘Early diagnosis saves lives,’ says Maggie. ‘I told family, friends and everyone I met on my daily dog walks that I had breast cancer and reminded them of the importance of checking their breasts regularly. Get checked by your GP, I would say. Screening is straightforward so just overcome your fears and do it.
‘I still check for any changes, however small or insignificant. At 75 years of age I really have an appointment with life.’
Support us! Please head online to justgiving.com/fundraising/Future-Dreams-Ltd and sponsor our brave climbers.
Get to know your breasts!
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If you notice anything unsual see your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Early diagnosis could mean a better chance of successful treatment.
I WANT TO GIVE WOMEN dignity and comfort
CHARLEY WOOD USED HER EXPERIENCE OF BREAST SURGERY AND CAME UP WITH A SIMPLE INVENTION TO HELP OTHER WOMEN RECOVER
My name is Charlotte, but everyone calls me Charley. I’m 31. I discovered I carried the BRCA1 gene, which gives you an increased risk of getting breast and ovarian cancers, when I was tested at 25. My mum had died of ovarian cancer eight years earlier. I am one of three girls in my family and two of us have inherited the mutated gene.
So, in July 2015, I had a preventative double mastectomy. This has taken my breast cancer risk to below that of the general population, which is brilliant. But the experience highlighted to me a real post-op problem for patients – and one I was determined to find a solution to.
Before I went in for surgery, I searched high and low for bags to carry the post-surgical drains I would be fitted with. I knew I was going to be discharged from hospital with these drains and have them for at least 12 days. It’s so inconvenient not having the use of your hands and so I worried about how I would manage. I didn’t want to be housebound but I didn’t want to get funny looks in the street or to feel embarrassed.
Unfortunately hospitals don’t readily give out things to
GOOD LIFE: Charley is looking ahead with boyfriend Tom contain the drains and I saw ladies using plastic carrier bags and pillowcases. I designed two simple fabric bags to be worn over my shoulders. Being able to do things for myself made me feel much better – I realised how helpful these were and wanted to make them available to others.
I came up with the name Drain Dollies while recovering from surgery, I thought it sounded nice and not too clinical. The morphine must have helped my imagination!
Since then the feedback I’ve received has been brilliant. Lots of surgeons and breast care nurses recommend the bags. They make recovery with drains easier, because you don’t have to worry about carrying them, or catching them on something. I also feel they give ladies more dignity – it isn’t very pleasant carrying round a bottle full of blood. The messages I’ve had from ladies with children has also been very touching. Many felt the drain bottles scared their children, and the Drain Dollies took this fear away.
My advice for anyone facing a BRCA diagnosis is not to panic. It doesn’t mean you have or will get cancer.
Research all your options. Surgery isn’t right for everybody, and the surgery types themselves are vast. I often have ladies who are contemplating surgery email or message me and I’m more than happy to chat with them. I’ve even sent out photos of my boobs during all the stages and final result to ease their anxiety. The entire world has seen my reconstruction!
If you are facing a double mastectomy find people who have been through it to talk to – there are always some things you don’t want to ask the medics or don’t have the time to. There’s plenty of private support forums on Facebook, where women talk openly about their experiences and air their concerns. Through groups such as these and Drain Dollies I have made friends for life. We still talk all the time,
sometimes about cancer related stuff, as none of us have had our ovaries removed yet, which is the next hurdle.
I never doubted taking the test. I don’t like uncertainty and always want a plan. The test appointments were not scary at all – it was the subsequent surgery that was nerve-racking. After all, having your breasts removed at such a young age is very drastic but much easier than getting breast cancer. For me, it was better to get it out the way and look forward to the future with one less worry.
I was very confident that my surgeon would give me the best outcome he possibly could and he did. It helped that I wasn’t particularly a fan of my boobs before. I prefer them now and don’t even have to wear a bra!
Today, life is good. I no longer worry about getting breast cancer. I live with my boyfriend, Tom, and our dog, Winston and one day in the future, Tom and I would love to have a baby. Obviously I can never breastfeed, but when you compare this to the alternative, for me it was a much better option.
I am a podiatrist and have my own foot-care clinic but I work on Drain Dollies in my spare time and really love doing it as it’s so different from my other job. A donation from sales goes towards Genesis breast cancer research and I love buying new fabrics and creating new designs.
Losing my mum at such a young age has made me realise that nothing is guaranteed for ever and you must enjoy every moment you can with the people you love. Live for today and do things that make you happy.
FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO: draindollies.co.uk
Bags designed by Charley
STACK FOR THE SISTERHOOD With Future Dreams
At Lola Rose, Future Dreams holds a very special place in all our hearts and, most poignantly, with our founder and Creative Director Nicola Gewirtz MBE, who grew up with Danielle and was always in awe of her strength and endless positivity. It was therefore only natural for Nikki and Lola Rose to become devoted supporters of Future Dreams since the beginning, with Nikki herself asked to be an ambassador for the Charity in 2010.
We at Lola Rose hope that through our partnership with Future Nikki Gewirtz MBE founder of Lola Rose Dreams our jewellery and accessories can help bring a little joy and happiness to women ’ s lives. Lola Rose is synonymous with the use of bold, beautiful and unique colour and it is our wish to help every woman celebrate their natural beauty and instill confidence and positivity in women everywhere.
Future Dreams offer impeccable care and support to those touched by cancer. Beyond that, sometimes a thoughtful gi really can li spirits. Lola Rose is proud to have created many pieces that that will make the wearer feel special, with 20% of all proceeds from the sales of our pink and purple jewellery being donated to Future Dreams. Our most recent collection includes eye catching wild pink quartzite, super so sweet pink quartzite, luxurious Persian agate, and the tranquil lavender quartzite, in an array of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings.
A Any of our beautiful pieces can be worn by a lady undergoing treatment, a survivor or a mother, sister, daughter or friend in solidarity. It is our hope that something from Lola Rose could be that little piece of everyday luxury that every woman can really treasure. To help Future Dreams continue the good work that they do, for the month of October Lola Rose will be donating 20% off all full-price pink and purple jewellery through our website direct at www.lolarose.co.uk.
