CHARITY OF THE MONTH
Having been a breast cancer patient at St John’s in Livingston, and supported by a local charity to help her through it, West Lothian resident Hazel Orr was saddened to learn that the charity was closing. “I didn’t want women, and men, going through what I did without the help I had benefited from,” says Hazel. So along with her sister Mandy, mother Sylvia and daughter Holly, in April this year she set up “Breast Friends and Family,” a charity to help support patients and their families facing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment at St John’s.
Hazel Orr
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Breast Friends and Family support the 150 or so patients (mostly women) who go through treatment for breast cancer at St Johns every year.
Holly
“We want to provide patients with the little things that the NHS are not in a position to, things that make a difference to each individual and to how they feel about themselves,” explains Hazel. “We also want to be in a position to do something for the families of those diagnosed with breast cancer, to help the children and husbands or wives deal with what their family is going through.”
Sylvia
18 | LIVINGSTON
“I was diagnosed in June 2015 and spent the next year going through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and then surgery again just before Christmas 2016. Throughout my treatment and recovery I was lucky enough to have the support of Bosom Buds, a local charity - support that I didn’t even know I needed! Sadly this charity has now closed, hence we have started Breast Friends and Family.”
Mandy
Working closely with the oncology nurses, they have developed a “goody bag” to supply to every patient. It includes mastectomy bras for those facing breast surgery, headscarfs for those losing their hair due to chemotherapy, cooling towels and creams, a support cushion (“this @KonectMagazines
