Guest Post - Elizabeth Bailey

Another blog post by one of my wonderful fellow ambassadors, and a real inspiration of mine, for you to enjoy today. Elizabeth is a wonderful lady, full of passion, intelligence and a real zest for life. I am honoured that she has allowed me to share some of her thoughts with you.

Elizabeth Bailey is Cancer Research UK’s Campaigns Ambassador for Luton South and on the Committee of CR UK Luton Relay for Life. Following a brush with breast cancer, she recently gave up a twenty-year Civil Service career and now combines being a postgraduate student with working in her local Public Health Team, and being a mum to two young daughters.  Elizabeth writes on cancer, and being a volunteer:

Over the past week, a family friend has been faced with the possibility that the breast cancer, for which she was successfully treated thirteen years ago, had returned, this time in her bones – secondaries, for which we know there is no cure.

The news stopped me in my tracks. Over time, I had come to the conclusion that the cancer for which I myself was treated three years ago was one of the best things that ever happened to me.  I’ll explain further why thought this, but for now, I’m having to consider that the life enhancing things which have come my way since then may have done so at some considerable cost – and only time will tell.

Early in 2010, I found myself sitting in a rain-drenched hospital car park howling with animal rage because I thought I would not see my little daughters grow up. But chemo, much surgery and radiotherapy have since been and gone.  It is now 2013, and the cancer, fingers crossed, is also gone.  But not the rage.  Cancer, in all its unpleasant incarnations, is now my chosen enemy. 

Everyone should have an enemy, don’t they say – it gives you purpose and direction, something to fight against. It did me. I now devote a good third of my time to helping dismantle this enemy, picking it apart bit by bit, with money, science, politics and the best efforts I can make to weaken it. I hope that even if it is still strong enough to take my friends, or even me, it will be a shadow by the time my daughters have to think about it. It’s in my sightline, and I’m proud to be called obsessive. One of my fellow CRUK Ambassadors, Jan Sheward, once vividly described to me her feeling of controlled rage about cancer.  Right on. I’m cool, calm, and armed with lots of facts and figures. Whoever wants to take me on, good luck.

Don’t misunderstand me - I respect my enemy, and it has given me things.  A whole host of new friends, for one.  Some really exciting, career-enhancing volunteering opportunities for another.  The courage to make a major change. Oh, and something to study for my PhD.  I really can’t complain about all of that. 

But there won’t be any gratitude. On Tuesday last week I went to the House of Commons with my fellow Ambassador Gower Tan, telling Peers and MPs why they should be playing their part in the further crowding-out of tobacco products by supporting an amendment to the Children and Families Bill.  This would enforce standardised cigarette packaging in shops where children are able to see those products. Yes, that’s right. Let’s not mess about here, the moral argument is won.  Peer-reviewed evidence proves that pack marketing attracts children. So we need to stop a toxic, addictive product, and the number one preventable cause of cancer, being dressed up in a completely misleading way. The game is over.  It’s now about taking timely action to save real people’s lives, and I will be making this very clear indeed.

We will win on this point.  It is not matter of if, but of when.  Funnily enough, until recently I used to rail against people describing cancer treatment as a ‘battle’, a ‘fight’ or a ‘war’. I had sad images of my old Dad, too weak to fight. But guess what - I’m getting over myself. If it helps some people to think like that, so be it.  Besides which, I think you can see I’m a bit of a street fighter myself - and I am not putting my coat back on just yet, not until I’m finished.

Macmillan Campaigns: Sign the Petitions!

Happy Friday one and all! 

My blog has been full of information about Macmillan this week and I wanted to finish by highlighting a petition they are currently running within their campaigning team! 

Challenging the Caring Crisis:
As a family member that provided support to family members whilst they dealt with cancer, I assure you that cancer is an issue that affects the whole family. It is so important to make sure people don’t face their diagnosis and treatment alone. However, looking after someone with cancer is a tough thing to do and many carers are unaware of the support that is available for them.

There are around a million people in England who look after a loved one with cancer. Around 47% of those people feel as though they do not get enough support to enable them to do this well and only 5% are given a carers assessment by their local authority which then allows them access to this vital support.

The governments Care Bill allows Macmillan a chance to address these issues and make life easier for carers and in turn, those they look after. Macmillan need 5,000 people to sign their petition to support them in their quest to get the government to do all they can to tackle the issues with carers and their support.

Please click the link below to support this cause and sign the petition. Visit the Macmillan website for more information! 

http://campaigns.macmillan.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=70&ea.campaign.id=20417&ea.url.id=163096&ea.campaigner.email=k7Tt0fBRvVGZ39e%2Fm3TMLzd%2B0UfVops6Tss8MZl8XxA=&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

Guest Blog Post - Hannah Marsh - What a Difference a Day Makes

I met Hannah Marsh when we were eleven years old and attending a special summer introductory session at our new secondary school, Beaverwood School for Girls. We weren’t in the same form group or anything like that but our paths did cross on occasion. Hannah is one of those rare people that truly appreciates everything she has in life. It is so lovely to read her Facebook statuses or see her Instagram photos as she is always so positive and happy. I can be a but grumpy on occasion so it’s always nice to know there are people out there who enjoy every moment of life and allow their positivity to rub off on you.

Hannah has kindly written a blog post for me to explain all about volunteering for The Princes Trust. I hope you find it as interesting and informative as I did!

What a difference a day makes……

My name is Hannah, and I am happy to have been asked to write an article for a guest blog post about my experience with volunteering with the Princes Trust recently.

To introduce more about how I came to volunteer, I would be keen to give some background into my ‘world of work’ so to speak. I currently work for a company which operates within the Lloyd’s of London insurance market based in the City of London (not to be confused with Lloyd’s TSB Banking Group!). Lloyd’s of London is a brand, in which insurance companies who trade within this market are able to insure very complex, specialist and interesting risks worldwide in what is known as a ‘subscription market’, where market players can share insurance risks to enable business opportunities. I work for one of those market players!

I am aware that ‘insurance’ is often labelled as dull, and I would be lying if I didn’t understand why it is perceived this way, but once people understand more about Lloyd’s of London, ‘dull’ and ‘boring’ are certainly not words that apply most of the time. To put it into a more interesting way of looking at things, Lloyd’s of London insures some pretty awesome stuff, be that by terrorism cover, and kidnap and ransom (yes that involves pirates!), to celebrity smiles and sports athletes body parts! There is always something new and sometimes crazy to insure, and there is also so much history which is the part that fascinates me the most – Lloyd’s even insured the Titanic! On a personal side, I have a lot of family links to Lloyd’s of London, my late Gramps worked his way up as a very respected business man in the market (his best friend at one point was even the Chairman and has his name in writing on the walls!), and my Dad has worked within Lloyd’s for many years too, so it certainly explains a little bit about how I ‘fell’ into it all. If anything, the Lloyd’s building is pretty cool – the Willy Wonka crossed with Doctor Who appearance and the ‘not for the faint hearted’ exterior lifts that are worth a ride in once in your life time, to the top floor. The building is ‘quirky’ to say the least, but the delicious restaurant and oozing history promotes its uniqueness and I just love the outfits worn by the Lloyd’s doorman. Not many people can say they work next to Diagon Alley / Leadenhall Market either (Harry Potter fans will appreciate!).

To further support the exciting side of it all, Lloyd’s are always welcoming special guests and public figures, from David Cameron, to Stephen Fry (that’s just so far in 2013), we recently also had Boris and his bikes making an appearance. Because Lloyd’s of London is such a worldwide acknowledged brand and recognised by many public figures, (the Queen Mother even opened the building many years ago), it means that there is always opportunity to encourage companies trading in this market place to give back to society, by way of Corporate Social Responsibility.

“CSR” is basically where by companies actively involving and encouraging their staff into ‘doing good’ and giving something back to society by supporting charities all over the world, and in local regions. I currently sit within the CSR committee where I work and therefore I am always exposed to opportunities available to help towards making a difference for various projects and initiatives for those less fortunate. Part of the benefits of where I work is that the company really encourage staff to volunteer and give their time as opposed to simply just donating to charity. Throughout the year we are actively organising events and ideas to raise money and support all staff to take part in out of work charity related activities by matching sponsorships. Each member of staff also receives 2 days a year, on top of holiday entitlement, to devote their valuable time to volunteering or taking part in a charity event. To date, whilst working in my current role, I have taking part in Race for Life 5km (2011) to raise money for Cancer Research; the Memory Walk 10miles (2012) to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. Both events, which I raised sponsorship for, were matched by the company to double the money donated to my chosen charity, which is fantastic.

Most recently, and the main purpose of this article, I have taken part in running a workshop for The Princes Trust (2013) which is something I thoroughly enjoyed, and experienced for the first time.

To give a brief background, the company I work for each year, have a charity of the year to which we are required to meet a target amount of funds to raise within that period, by organising and running various events and initiatives to involve staff and to raise money for a good cause (in September 2013 we have a ‘Charity Week’ lined up with activities taking place all week in our London office). The Princes Trust for 2013 is our charity of the year, and we are proud to be an active Patron. We are currently therefore informed of various opportunities that we, as patrons, can take part in, to support this brilliant charity which aims to help 50,000 young people a year get their lives back in track. It really is a very interesting and heartwarming cause and having the opportunity to volunteer with young people who are on the Princes Trust ‘team programmes’ is extremely insightful, challenging but exceptionally rewarding. It also makes you really appreciate your own strengths, and potential as well as motivating those young people you volunteer with to work towards their goals.

I recently took part in a 1 day workshop which forms as Week 9 of a 12 week ‘team programme’ organised by the Princes Trust. Young people have to apply to be accepted on these programmes which offer practical support including training, mentoring and financial assistance, which are designed to engage young people and help them move into employment. Week 9 of the programme I took part in was entitled ‘CV and Interview Skills’ and the objective(s) of the day was to empathise to the young people (approx. 10 averaging from 16 – 25), the importance and purpose of a CV, how to write one and then how to prepare, and conduct yourself in an interview environment – which included some really good (and very enjoyable!) role plays! It actually brought back my memories of attending Helen O’Grady’s Drama Academy back in my younger days, and my childhood dreams of wanting to become an actress (far too little confidence for that now unfortunately).

The 1 day workshop was my first experience ‘teaching’ to a group, and although challenging, it was thoroughly enjoyable, and exceptionally rewarding. The young people in the group were a really intelligent bunch, each with their own personalities, and dream jobs (from Vets, to Graphic Designers, to Gallery Curators). It was an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to meet with them, and leave at the end of the day knowing that they had learnt and experienced at least one new thing. We spent the morning and afternoon with ‘ice breakers’ to encourage the young people to interact with each other, and with us, the volunteers, which were good fun and involved sweets – always a positive. The day involved predominately group activities however for those young people who required more assistance, we took part in one on one sessions to really help get a good basic CV together. It was fascinating to hear of the young people’s dream jobs, their idols, their interests and hobbies, and especially to see them in their final week speaking in front of their friends and family for their ‘graduation’ from the programme. I didn’t ‘love’ being called up on stage unexpectedly to hand out certificates and have professional photos taken with each of the young people (tomato face was unavoidable), however I was touched that after just one day with these young people, they actually remembered me and genuinely seemed to have enjoyed the experience overall, especially now having CV’s to use for job applications and expectations for interviews.

For those who are interested in volunteering, be that with the Princes Trust, or any charity for that matter, it really could not be more attainable. There is rarely anything the internet cannot do these days so I would suggest anyone interested to get online, you’re online now as you’re reading this online blog, and go to your chosen charity for information on volunteering. The Princes Trust volunteering opportunities are all over the place, and so you can always locate availability in your local area. You can volunteer individually or through Corporate Support if you’re work place are looking to become a patron, there really are so many options out there to ‘do your bit’. It really is not only rewarding for the young people you help, no matter what you end up doing. A little really does go a long way and I am proud to have devoted valuable time to at least attempt to help or reignite motivation in someone to strive for their goals and achievement. There are so many famous faces who have benefited from the Princes Trust Team Programme and their support, it really is amazing to see how a charity can make such a difference to someone’s life.

Thank you

Hannah

My case study has now been published on the Princes Trust website to promote Corporate Volunteering, on behalf of the company I work for who is an active patron.

http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/support_us/corporate_supporters/involving_your_employees/employee_volunteering/hannah_marsh.aspx

Plain Packaging: Writing to David Cameron

I’m so sorry for the recent lack of posts, once again life has become crazy and time for research has become non existent!

I just wanted to draw your attention to recent developments in the campaign we have been working on for well over a year now. Cancer Research UK has been asking to government to introduce plain, standardised packs for cigarettes. The campaign is aimed at young people and trying to discourage them from taking up smoking in the first place. IT IS NOT AIMED AT PEOPLE WHO ALREADY SMOKE.

Thousands of people every year are diagnosed with cancer because they have a smoking habit. Years of research has proven very clear links between cancer and smoking. One in every four cancer deaths in the UK is directly caused by smoking. a fifth of all cancer cases in the UK are also directly caused by smoking. Cancer Research research shows that smoking is the most important PREVENTABLE cause of cancer in the world.

More then four in five cases of Lung Cancer are caused by smoking. Lung Cancer has one of the lowest survival rates. it is the most common cause of cancer in the UK. Most of these cases are preventable if you give up smoking and allow your lungs to recover.

As well as Lung Cancer, smoking also increases your risk of over a dozen other cancers:
* Mouth
* Larynx (Voicebox)
* Pharynx (Upper Throat)
* Nose and Sinuses
* Oesophagus (Food Pipe)
* Liver
* Pancreas
* Stomach
* Kidney
* Bladder
* Cervix
* Bowel
* One type of Ovarian
* Some types of Leukaemia

* There is also evidence to suggest smoking can increase the risk of you developing Breast Cancer

There are at least 80 cancer causing substances in tobacco smoke. As you inhale the smoke these chemicals are released into your lungs and spread about your body. According to scientists; these chemicals can actually damage your DNA and mutate important genes, making your cells grow and multiply until they are out of control.

I  would like to make a very important point: I, and everyone else at CRUK, fight for EVERYONE suffering from cancer and EVERYONE who will suffer from cancer at some point in the future. No one deserves cancer; it is a horrific disease that changes the lives of sufferers and their loved ones. It is cruel and aggressive. It doesn't discriminate. This campaign is not aimed at making smokers feel like pariahs. It is not aimed at taking away your rights as a smoker. It is not aimed at making smokers lives more difficult. It’s not aimed at making smokers feel embarrassed, ashamed, guilty or pressurised to quit. This campaign is aimed at children and trying to get them to not take up smoking in the first place.

Cancer Research UK receives no government funding but has become the world’s leading charity dedicated to fighting cancer and saving lives through research. The charity is committed to reducing the harm caused by tobacco and has played a significant role in securing a ban on tobacco advertising, creating smoke free workplaces, removing cigarette vending machines and most recently changing the laws surrounding tobacco displays in retailers. We are now working hard to secure plain packaging and if the campaign is successful then the UK will become the first nation in Europe to introduce plain packaging.

Research has shown that eight out of ten smokers have started smoking by the age of nineteen. Most of these smokers will develop an addiction that will stay with them long into adulthood. Half of these long term smokers will die of a smoking related illness such as cancer. That is a huge amount of people suffering from an illness that could be prevented by not smoking in the first place.

The campaigns team at CRUK have been very thorough in their research and have providing their ambassadors with all the information needed. I have a list of arguments and rebuttals against plain packaging and I will write them here for you all to see:

“Plain Packaging will make packs easier to forge and will increase smuggling”

Tobacco products are already really easy to forge so covert markings are used to detect smuggled packs. These markings will remain on the plain packs.

“Plain Packaging will affect local shops”

Plain packaging is aimed at stopping young people from starting smoking so sales will decline slowly over time giving shops a chance to adjust. Plain packets will not have any detrimental effect on shopkeepers’ ability to find the requested pack’ peer-reviewed research has suggested that plain packs will actually speed up that process

“Cigarette prices will fall”

If there is any reduction in the price of cigarettes then taxes on cigarettes can be raised to compensate

“We can’t afford to lose tax from smokers”

Taxing of cigarettes contributes £10 billion to the treasury every year. HOWEVER the cost of smoking has been estimated to be £13.74 billion meaning the strain of smoking related illnesses cost more than the tax is brings in.

No figure can be put on the cost of human suffering caused by cancer

“Plain packaging is illegal as it infringes on trade mark rights”

Nobody is taking trademarks away by including plain packaging. International treaties have opt outs where public health in concerned so this is not an illegal move at all.

The important thing to remember about this campaign is that a lot of the campaigning has been done by volunteers like me. We are members of the public who genuinely believe in the work of Cancer Research UK. We are people who do this work in our spare time for no financial gains whatsoever. You have to really believe in something to be willing to dedicate hours and hours of your spare time to a cause, especially when you have a busy career, a family to take care of and an everyday life to lead. That dedication is a powerful tool. It means the work we do is genuinely done because we believe in what we are doing. We are people who have been affected by cancer and want to help prevent our experiences happening to others.

The other thing to remember is that the tobacco companies have spent a hell of a lot of money on opposing this campaign. Why would they do that if they were not worried that plain packaging would be a threat to their profits? Two million pounds was spent by JTI alone. Tobacco companies are not allowed to advertise their products anymore. Gone are the days where a Benson and Hedges advert would loom down on you from one of those massive billboards whilst you’re stuck in traffic. They have to rely on other means of enticing smokers. Packets are one of them. Cigarette packets have become increasingly glitzy in the past few years. Our campaign “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” has also proven tricky for tobacco companies because now cigarettes are hidden away in larger retailers.

Smoking is a lifestyle choice. One that I try to understand and respect. If you know of the dangers and choose to carry on smoking then that is entirely your prerogative and I wish you well. I sincerely hope you are in the very small minority that’s doe not get ill. But the fact remains that smoking is a dangerous habit and children should be encouraged to not take up smoking at all in the first place. The tobacco industry refers to children and young people as “pre smokers”, a fact I find rather disgusting. Most smokers I know would hate for their children to smoke.

If you believe plain packaging won’t put young people off smoking then think of your time at school. Imagine your mum put an ASDA own brand can of cola into your lunchbox instead of a Coca-Cola can, would you not have been slightly embarrassed by it? It’s the same logic with cigarettes – some are cooler then others. We all know how much image means when you are young. Smoking a certain brand of cigarettes will mean something. Taking the branding away will take that image away. No one will look cooler then anyone else if everyone has the same packet.

A comment I hear frequently is “if you’re doing this to tobacco, why not to alcohol?”. I have my own opinion on this. Certain types of Alcohol, in moderation, can have some health benefits whereas there are NO benefits to smoking. Absolutely none. It makes your hair, skin and clothes smell. It ages your skin. It discolours your teeth and nails. It damages your insides. It rots your teeth. It leads to a whole host of life threatening illnesses. Not to mention the damage it will do to your bank account.

I hope this blog post has provided you with all the information you need about plain packaging and why so many people are for such a historic move. Obviously, I understand that not everyone feels the same about the campaign but I hope this blog post explains my feelings on the subject.

The government recently announced that they do not intend to introduce plain, standardised cigarette packs which has been a huge disappointment to us, especially when you consider that over half of the detailed responses sent to Jeremy Hunt were in favour of the introduction of plain, standardised packs. We are asking David Cameron to let parliament decide on the issue with a free vote in the Commons. We need your help with this and I would ask that you follow the link and fill in your details to send a letter straight to the Prime Minister!

https://action.cancerresearchuk.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=149&ea.campaign.id=21578&ea.tracking.id=140b280a

Please do feel free to use the comments box above to ask me any questions and thank you so much for supporting our campaign J

Spot Cancer Early

Today brought the sad news that Bernie Nolan has sadly passed away at the age of fifty two after a battle with breast cancer. She left a fourteen year old daughter, her husband and of course her sisters.

Cancer is a cruel disease and can strike anyone at anytime. It is so important to know your body and be vigilant with your health as cancer is so much easier to treat when it is found early.

Cancer survival rates have doubled since the 1970’s and twice as many people today with survive their cancer for more then ten years. This is down to a number of things such as better targeted drugs, more advanced treatments and more ways to spot cancer early.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done, for example 9/10 people diagnosed with early bowel cancer will survive at least five years after diagnosis BUT only 1/10 cases are currently being diagnosed at this early stage. We all need to take more care to be aware of our bodies, be aware of the symptoms and visit the doctor when we notice any changes in our bodies usual habits. This could save your life.

I am going to list the most important symptoms for both men and women but please don't panic if you look through the list and think a few apply to you. This doesn't mean you definitely have cancer, in fact it usually isn't anything as serious as cancer but it may be worth going to your GP to have a chat and a check up :).

Signs of cancer for both men and women:
* Usual lump or swelling anywhere on your body - Men should pay particular attention to any lumps in their testicles and women should pay particular attention to any breast lumps. Everyone should watch out for lumps on your neck, armpit, abdomen, groin or chest area. The best time to have a check is probably when having a bath or shower. Have a good feel and know how your body feels so if any lumps do appear you can detect them easily.
* A mole that has changed shape, size or colour - most moles are harmless. However be aware of them because if a new mole appears or one changes colour, shape or size then it will need to be checked. If any mole begins or ooze, bleed or become crusty then please make an appointment with your GP ASAP.
* A sore that hasn't healed after several weeks - our skin is usually able to repair itself easily (within a week or so) If a spot, wart or sore isn't able to heal itself after three weeks then please go to your doctor.
* An ulcer in your mouth or on your tongue that has been there more then three weeks - most people get mouth ulcers when they are feeling run down. Usually they are nothing to worry about. Usually the lining of your mouth will renew itself every two weeks so an ulcer won't last much longer then that. However is an ulcer does last long then three weeks please visit your doctor or dentist.
* A cough or croaky voice that lasts longer then three weeks - these are symptoms of a cold. Usually they disappear after a week or so and are not signs of anything serious. But if they do last for longer then three weeks or if they get persistently worse then please do go to your doctor. ESPECIALLY if you are a smoker or have been a smoker.
* Persistent difficulty swallowing - Lots of medical conditions can affect your ability to swallow. If you are having difficulty and it lasts longer then a week or so then you should go to your doctor.
* Indigestion - There are lots of foods, especially fatty or spicy ones that can make you feel uncomfortable after eating them. If this is happening to you a lot or is really painful then it should be checked out.
* Blood in your urine - This should ALWAYS be reported to your doctor. It might not mean cancer but it should always be looked at.
* Problems passing urine - It is common for men to have difficulty passing urine as they get older. You may need to pee more often then you used to and it can sometimes be painful. Usually it is caused by a common condition causing your prostate to enlarge. It it not often cancer but if you are having trouble please visit a doctor. Most women experiencing problems with urine are suffering from an infection but if you need to pass urine more urgently then normal or are in pain whilst doing so, please get yourself checked out.
* Blood in your bowel movements - This is usually caused by piles which is caused by straining when you are going to the toilet. It can also be a sign of cancer so please stay vigilant.
* A change in your bowel movements that lasts longer then six weeks (diarrhoea) - this is usually caused by stomach bugs or food poisoning. If it lasts longer then a few weeks please get yourself to the doctors.
* Unexpected weight loss - It is normal for your weight to fluctuate slightly. However if you are not on a diet but are losing lots of weight please get a check up.
* Heavy night sweats - these are usually brought on by infections and some types of medications. They are also common in women going through the menopause. They can also be caused by some cancers so please take care if you are experiencing them regularly.
* Unexplained pain or ache that lasts longer then four weeks - Pain is our bodies telling us something is not right. Take notice of any pain and if it is persistent or getting worse then go see your doctor as soon as you can.
* Coughing up blood - ALWAYS go to see your doctor as soon as this happens.

Signs of cancer in women specifically:
* An usual change in your breast - lumps are not the only sign of breast cancer. Changes to your breast's appearance, shape or feel are also signs as are changes to the texture of the skin, any redness or changes to your nipples. Pain in your breast is also a sign. If you experience any of these, don't panic but visit your GP ASAP.
* Bleeding from the vagina after the menopause or in between periods - Spotting (bleeding between periods) is common for females taking the contraceptive pill. However if you are bleeding during or after sex, between periods or after going through the menopause then it should be check out straight away.
* Persistent bloating - Bloating is the blight of lots of women's lives. If it happens persistently please have a check up.

Some of these symptoms may seem embarrassing or silly. Don't ever feel embarrassed to see your doctor - they have seen it all and do not judge. Don't ever feel like you're bothering your doctor or wasting a time slot - if you have a concern or symptom, they are there to listen, to check and to reassure. If you are worried or think you may need to see a doctor then please don't deliberate, make the appointment as soon as you can. Early diagnosis saves lives. It also puts your mind at rest if nothing is actually wrong with you.

Cancer Screening

Certain cancer types have screening tests in place to detect the disease in the early stages:

Breast Cancer - Mammograms

What is a Mammogram?

A mammogram is an x-ray of breast tissue and is used to identify early breast cancer. You have to remove all clothing on your upper body, including your bra to have a mammogram and are positioned so that both breasts are x-rayed individually. This means your breasts are gently squashed with a clear, flat plastic plate. This means you can get a clear picture whilst having a minimal amount of radiation. It can be uncomfortable but it doesn’t take very long. Most radiographers aim for two mammograms, at different angles, for both breasts.

A new technique is currently being introduced. This is known as digital mammogram and this uses computer imaging. This new technique has been shown to be better at picking up breast cancer in younger women and those with denser breast tissue.

Some Important Facts about Mammograms:

*Mammograms do not prevent cancer but they can discover a cancer that has already developed.

*Mammograms can be uncomfortable but this does not usually last long. Some women may be a little sore afterwards

*Mammograms involve x-rays which mean you will be exposed to a small amount of radiation, although it is not likely to be a harmful amount and as you only need a mammogram every three years it is unlikely to have a large effect in the long run.

*Can sometimes produce false positives which can cause a huge amount of unnecessary worry. Sometimes mammograms pick up on an abnormal area in the breast which later proves to be non cancerous.

*Occasionally mammograms need to be repeated due to blurry images, equipment failure or parts of the breast being missed by the original images.

*Mammograms are the most effective way of detecting early breast cancer but it is not 100% accurate at all times. Sometimes cancers are too small to be detected on a mammogram or the person reading it may miss a cancer, although this risk is reduced by having at least two people check the mammogram

*Women taking part of the programme may still develop breast cancer between mammograms. This is called interval cancer and the patient will have a mammogram done at the time of diagnosis so it can be compared to previous ones to notice any patterns. It is important to note that cure rates for women with interval cancer are a lot better then those for women that have never had screening.

Cervical Cancer – Smear Tests

Smear Tests:

It is hugely important to have cervical screening as preventing cervical cancer from developing is vital. Cervical cancer is actually one of the only cancers that is preventable because if pre cancerous cells are detected through screening then they can be treated before they have a chance to become cancerous.

Women between the ages of twenty five and sixty are encouraged to have smear tests every three to five years to detect any changing cells in their cervix. During a smear test, a doctor or nurse will insert a speculum into your vagina and scrape anyway a sample of cells from your cervix. These cells are then placed into a small pot of liquid and send to be analysed. You will then be contacted with your results and any abnormal smears will require further investigation.

You don’t have to be over the age of twenty five to develop cervical cancer; some younger women do develop it as well. However, in the UK, smear tests are not encouraged until twenty five because your cervix is still developing in your teens and early twenties. This means the likelihood of you getting an abnormal result is more common but usually nothing to worry about. After Jade Goody’s horrifically young death, a campaign was launched to lower the smear test age limit but medical professionals do not agree with this. If you are under twenty five and are concerned about your cervical cancer risk – please do speak to your GP and get some advice. A private gynaecologist may allow you to have a smear test but it would depend on your individual circumstances.

PLEASE DO NOT BE SCARED TO HAVE A SMEAR TEST – THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNLADYLIKE BUT THEY DO SAVE LIVES! A FEW MINUTES OF DISCOMFORT IS BETTER THEN A BATTLE WITH CERVICAL CANCER!!!

It is also important to note that an abnormal smear result does not mean you have cervical cancer. If you are contacted and told your test was abnormal then please do not ignore it, go and see what your doctors have to say.

I’m approaching my twenty third birthday so I am not entitled to smear tests yet. I’ve heard horror stories about them and I am slightly worried about them. However, I will be forcing myself to attend my smear tests appointment when they are available to me. If I do develop pre cancerous cells – I will be finding them and I will be stopping them from developing.

Points to Consider:
You can have a smear test at several different places:
* Your GP’s surgery should offer them
* A family planning clinic
* A genito-urinary clinic
* An antenatal clinic
* A private health clinic
* Marie Stopes

You are well within your rights to request a female doctor or nurse performs your test but any male doctors will be chaperoned by a female staff member anyway. It is important to state if you require a female at the time of booking your appointment. 

A smear test should be scheduled whilst you are in the middle of your menstrual cycle (between periods) as it will be very difficult to see your cervix and get a cell sample whilst you are bleeding.

Age Limits:
There are varying age limits for women in the four nations of the UK.
* Women between the ages of twenty five and sixty four are screened every three to five years in England and Northern Ireland.
* In Scotland, cervical screening is offered to women aged between twenty and sixty.
* Wales offers cervical screening to women aged between twenty and sixty four.

Research has shown that screening every three years prevents 84/100 cases of cervical cancer that would develop if they weren’t caught by the smears. So getting a smear test every three years is recommended by the NHS up until you are fifty years old. Abnormal cells develop at a much slower rate in women over fifty so screening is recommended after five years for women in that age group. Your local primary care trust will contact you whenever it is time for a screening for you. I cannot stress the importance of attending these appointments enough – it could save you from a battle with cancer.


The Screening Process:
Cervical cancer is preventable. This is because pre cancerous cell changes can be picked up before they have a chance to develop. A cervical cancer screening test is known as a smear test. This involves a doctor or a nurse using a speculum to take a small sample of cells from the surface of your cervix. It sounds horrific and it can be very uncomfortable but I am going to try and explain it as clearly as I can!
You will need to take off your underwear and lie back on the couch/bed. Being as relaxed as you possibly can be will make the procedure less uncomfortable. 

Occasionally, the person doing the test will perform a vaginal examination first. This means they will place two gloved fingers inside your vagina to make sure your womb is in the correct position and that it feels like it’s a normal size. They will use their other hand to press down on your abdomen and gently feel your womb.

Then comes the actual smear test: The speculum is placed inside your vagina and has two arms which are used to spread the sides of your vagina apart so the cervix can be clearly seen. A small brush is then inserted and used scraped along the surface of your cervix to collect a sample of your cells. The brush and the cells are then sent to a lab in a pot of liquid and examined under a microscope. Any abnormal cells are reported and further investigation on these cells will be needed. 

Bowel Cancer – Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is usually performed in the outpatients department of a hospital and the procedure itself usually lasts around an hour. The bowel needs to be completely empty for the colonoscopy so the patient will need to follow a very careful diet for a few days before the test. Laxatives may also be needed and may be prescribed. The department carrying out the procedure will give you careful instructions regarding your diet and laxatives.

It may be possible for you to have a sedative to relax you a little before the procedure. You will be told to lie on your side whilst the nurse or doctor passes a thin flexible tube called a colonoscope into your back passage. There are flexible fibres in the tube which pass around the bowel easily. There is a light and camera on the end of the tube and these show any abnormal areas of the bowel.

It may be that photographs and biopsies of the cells in the large bowel are taken during the colonoscopy. Usually any polyps can be removed using a wire loop that is passed through the colonoscope. This can be done painlessly normally.

Sometimes the whole bowel can’t be seen during the colonoscopy. This may be due to the bowel not being completely empty or because the colonoscopy can’t get round a bend in the bowel or reach the end of t. You may be asked to have a repeat or a CT colonoscopy in this situation.

A COLONOSCOPY CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE BUT A SEDATIVE WILL HELP YOU RELAX.

Most patients are ready to go home within a few hours of the test but someone will need to come and collect you, especially if you have had a sedative. Someone should be around to keep an eye on you for around twelve hours after the procedure.

 Potential Complications:

Usually a colonscopy is a fairly straightforward procedure and patients do not have any side effects. However, very rare side effects do include:

*Fluid Loss – Taking laxatives may cause you to lose lots of fluids as you are visiting the toilet frequently. It is important to let the people carrying out your colonoscopy know if you have any heart problems before taking laxatives as this can worsen your condition.

*Breathing or Heart Problems – You may have a reaction to the laxatives which may cause you to have temporary problems breathing or temporary problems with your heart.

*Heavy Bleeding – Around 1/150 people having a colonoscopy suffer from heavy bleeding after the procedure. If biopsies are taken or polyps are removed then there is a chance of bleeding. If you do notice heavy bleeding then you should seek medical advice immediately.

*Perforated Bowel – The colonoscopy can VERY RARELY make a hole in the bowel wall. This happens about 1/1000 but an operation may need needed to mend the hole.

*Death – Around 1/10,000 people having a colonscopy die as a result. A very very small percentage of those having the procedure.

Results:

The specialist performing your colonoscopy will let you know if they take any biopsies or remove any polyps during your procedure. The results of these can take up to three weeks, which can be a very anxious time for you.

Possible results include:

*A Normal Result – this means no polyps or cancerous cells were found in your bowel. About 50% of colonoscopies have a normal result and it is rare that a colonoscopy will miss cancer. If your result is normal then you will probably be offered screening every two years.

*Benign Polyps – If one or more polyps are found during the procedure then they are usually all removed at the same time in a procedure known as a polypectomy. This can help prevent bowel cancer developing. Around 40% of people having colonoscopies following an abnormal FOB test have polyps  The removed polyps are studied in a lab and the next steps are determined by the results. Polyps can sometimes reoccur after being removed.

*Cancer – Around 10% of people having colonoscopies after an abnormal FOB test are diagnosed with bowel cancer. That is 1/10. If the cancer is found at an early stage then there is a very good chance of survival as around 90% of early stage bowel cancer cases are successfully treated.

*Other Benign Causes – Colonoscopies can also indicate other conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and you are usually referred to a gastroenterologist.

Abnormal Tests Results:Abnormal results are usually reported like this:
Mild Dyskaryosis or CIN 1(mild or slight cell changes)If you are told that you have mild cell changes then you will probably be told to get a colposcopy straight away or to wait and have another smear in six months. Sometimes mild cell changes will go back to normal by themselves but it is important to monitor them and go back for any tests advised by your medical team. If a second test shows abnormal cells then a colposcopy is definitely needed to assess the situation. 

Moderate Dyskaryosis or CIN 2 (moderate cell changes)Treatment will be needed if you have moderate cell changes but you only usually need it once. Then you will have follow up tests to monitor the cells in your cervix. If you have successful treatment after an abnormal smear and carry on having regular smears then you are unlikely to get cervical cancer. If you do not have treatment then you are at real risk of developing cervical cancer
Severe Dyskaryosis or CIN 3 (severe cell changes)This is also sometimes known as carcinoma in situ (CIS) which sounds like cancer but it isn’t. This means some cells in your cervix look cancerous but are all found in the skin layer which covers your cervix. It won’t be “true” cancer until it breaks through the layer and starts to spread into the surrounding tissue. Urgent treatment is needed for this kind of smear result but if it is moved ASAP then cancer can be prevented.
All these results mean the cells found are pre cancerous meaning if they are left to go untreated, they could develop into cancer of the cervix. YOU DO NOT HAVE CERVICAL CANCER IF YOU ARE TOLD YOU HAVE ABNORMAL CELLS.
9/10 smears come back normal. 1/20 shows a borderline or mild cell change. Most of the time these cells will return to normal by themselves. 1/100 shows moderate cell changes whilst 1/200 show severe changes. Less than 1/1000 shows cancer. 
First Steps:If you have mild cell changes then you may be told to wait six months and have a repeat test. This is because mild cell changes usually sort themselves out. If you have moderate to severe cell changes then you will probably be referred to your local hospital for a colposcopy. This is an outpatient procedure and it is basically a close examination of your cervix which doesn’t actually go inside your vagina. The doctor or nurse specialist uses something like a magnifying glass to look at the cells on your cervix in more detail and takes a biopsy to send to the lab for further examination.

Types of Treatment:Laser Therapy (Laser Ablation): some cells can be burned away by a laser in an outpatient procedure. For this kind of treatment you will lie on a bed with your legs in stirrups whilst a doctor places a speculum into your vagina to hold it open whilst they point a laser beam at the abnormal areas. You will be given local anaesthetic to numb the area and prevent pain. The laser is a very strong and hot beam of light and it burns away the abnormal cells. This can cause a slight burning smell whist you are having the treatment but that just means the laser is working so try not to worry. You should be able to go home as soon as the treatment is finished. You may experience period type pains but they should go away with the normal paracetamol or ibuprofen and some bed rest.
Cold Coagulation: This name is a little misleading as the treatment isn’t cold at all! You lie on a bed with your legs in stirrups whilst a doctor inserts a speculum to hold your vagina open. A hot probe is then used to burn away the abnormal cells. You shouldn’t be able to feel the probe but it can cause some period type pains which should go away a few hours after the treatment has finished.
Cryotherapy: This is basically cold coagulation but with a cold probe instead of a hot one. The cold probe freezes the abnormal cells. The procedure is exactly the same as the cold coagulation.
Diathermy: This is done under local anaesthetic. An electronic current is used to cut away the tissue that contains the abnormal cells. It is a fairly quick procedure and it usually done as an outpatient case which means you should be able to go home afterwards. It can cause bleeding or discharge for about four weeks after the treatment but sanitary towels will have to be used as tampons have to be avoided for four weeks. Sex must also be avoided for four weeks following a diathermy procedure.
Cone Biopsy: This is a minor operation that can be used to diagnose cervical cancer or to treat abnormal cells. The entire area containing possible abnormal cells is removed. It is called a cone biopsy because a cone shaped area of tissue is removed from the cervix. This is called the transformation zone. This can be done under general or local anaesthetic.
Hysterectomy: If you are past menopause, or have had all your children, then your doctor may suggest removing your uterus. This is usually suggested if you have had abnormal cells more then once or if the cells are severely abnormal.
These treatments do sound rather uncomfortable and scary but it is massively important to have abnormal cells treated to prevent them developing into cervical cancer. Please do remember to book yourself in for a smear if you are due one. As I’ve said before, a little discomfort is nothing compared to a battle with cervical cancer.

I hope this blog post is interesting and informative for you. Please do visit your doctor if anything is bothering you healthwise. Please look into screening if you have a family history of any cancer type. We need to look after ourselves and make sure we catch cancer early enough to treat it.

If you have any questions about early diagnosis, cancer screening or symptoms please visit www.spotcancerearly.com

xxx