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.

The Eve Appeal - Raising Awareness of Gynae Cancers

Happy Wednesday one and all!

 

Fifty three women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer every day in the UK and twenty one die. The Eve Appeal was launched in 2005 to raise awareness of these cancers as well as raise funds for research into these cancer types. 

I wanted to focus on The Eve Appeal today and shine a light on all that they do.

Gynaecological Cancer is the group term for five cancer types that originate in the female reproductive system:

*Cervical Cancer – cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb). I have written extensively about this cancer type. It can affect women of all ages but is commonly found in women aged between thirty and forty five. It is a largely preventable cancer type as I like to mention as much as possible. Key symptoms of cervical cancer are:

-Any unusual bleeding from the vagina particularly after sex and after the menopause

-Persistent vaginal discharge that is blood stained or smells unpleasant.

The UK has a very successful screening process for cervical cancer involving smear tests and this is estimated to save around four thousand lives every year. The HPV vaccine will hopefully lead to even more prevented cases of cervical cancer in the future but at the moment it is hugely vital that you have your regular smear tests to pick up on any abnormal cells and treat them before they develop into cervical cancer.

*Ovarian Cancer – cancer of the ovaries accounts for more deaths in the UK then the other four gynaecological cancers put together. Around six thousand five hundred women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK every year and around four thousand two hundred die. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are hard to identify and it can be hard to diagnose the condition until it has spread to other parts of the body but the key early signs of ovarian cancer are:

-persistent pelvic and abdominal pain

-Increased abdominal size/persistent bloating

-Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly

-Needing to urinate more frequently

These symptoms are not just indicators for ovarian cancer but should always be checked out by a doctor to rule out anything serious such as ovarian cancer.

*Vaginal Cancer – cancer of the vagina is very rare and there are about two hundred and fifty cases seen in the UK every year. It is rarely found in ladies under the age of forty but most commonly found in women over the age of sixty. Changes to the vaginal lining called Vaginal Intrapithelial Neoplasia (VAIN) can give you a higher chance of developing vaginal cancer although the changes are not enough to make cells cancerous on their own. Cervical screening can sometimes pick up on these changes but this is not guaranteed as cervical cells are sampled during a smear test rather then vaginal cells. The HPV vaccine is able to provide some protection against vaginal cell changes. Symptoms of vaginal cancer or VAIN are are but can include:

-intermenstrual bleeding or bleeding after the menopause

-bleeding after sex

-vaginal discharge with a strong odour or that is blood stained

-pain during sex

-A lump or growth in the vagina

-A vaginal itch that won’t go away

20% of women diagnosed with vaginal cancer do not have any of the above symptoms and most of the above symptoms can be caused by something else so it is hugely vital that you visit your doctor for a check up if you feel something isn’t quite right.

Vulva Cancer – Vulva is the term used for the female external genital organs and vulval cancer is another rare cancer type with just over a thousand UK women diagnosed yearly. Around 80% of the women diagnosed are aged over sixty but the precancerous condition Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VIN) can be found in women aged between thirty to fifty. Signs of vulva cancer can include:

-a lasting itch

-pain or soreness

-thickened, raised, red, white or dark patches of skin

-a sore of growth on the skin

-burning sensation when you urinate.

-vaginal discharge or bleeding

-a mole that changes shape or colour

-swelling or a lump

As with most symptoms, these ones can indicate something other than cancer of the vulva but it is still vitally important to get them checked by a doctor should they arise.

Womb Cancer – uterine or endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer found in UK women and changes in our lifestyles mean it is on the increase. It is almost always curable as long as it is found in the early stages. The key signs of womb cancer are:

-vaginal bleeding after the menopause

-intermenstrual bleeding.

Any abnormal bleeding should be investigated by your GP immediately to rule out anything life threatening.

The Eve Appeal works hard to fund world class research into these cancer types at the Department of Women’s Cancers which is based at UCH in London. The research benefits women across the world and The Eve Appeal are consistently contributing about 15% of the total income used for research. Major breakthroughs are being achieved and the research is pioneering new ways to screen for gynaecological cancers as well as diagnose them early, prevent and treat them. This all leads to thousands of lives being saved every year.

Ladies I cannot stress enough how important it is to get to know what is normal for your body, especially your reproductive system. By learning what is normal for you, you will be able to notice when something is not quite right and by working that out and visiting a doctor to get the abnormality checked, cancer can be diagnosed quicker. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REGULAR SMEARS TOO!!!

For more information on gynaecological cancers and The Eve Appeal, please visit. www.eveappeal.org.uk

This post is dedicated to my Auntie/Nouna Gina who died of ovarian cancer in September 1994. She is missed every day.

xxx

Cancer Research UK - Local Statistics

Happy Friday! A very quick post today!

The wonderful people at Cancer Research UK have created a way for you to find out the cancer statistics in your local area. It is a fantastic resource and I hope you find it useful and interesting!

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/local-cancer-statistics/

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

Macmillan Nurses

One thing that I consistently hear from cancer sufferers and loved ones is that the Macmillan nurses are angels. These very special people spend their time dealing with people in a horrific situation but they do so with compassion, dignity and care. That takes a very special person and I wanted to shine a light on these amazing people today.

You need to be a registered nurse with at least five years of experience (with two years cancer or palliative care experience) in order to become a Macmillan nurse. They also undergo highly specialised training in managing pain and other symptoms as well as how to provide psychological support.

Macmillan nurse are usually employed within the NHS but funded by Macmillan, usually for three years. After those three years they are normally funded by the NHS or a partner organisation. The nurses work within the NHS and aren’t usually involved with private healthcare. The nurses don’t usually deal with routine nursing tasks.

Types of Macmillan Nurses:

Some of the Macmillan nurses have certain areas that they specialise in:

Macmillan Chemotherapy Nurse – These nurses administer chemotherapy to patients and help them deal with the side effects.

Macmillan Breast Cancer Nurse – These nurses provide support for breast cancer patients from the time of the screening and diagnosis right through their treatment and beyond. They provide help for the women in making informed decisions as well as providing practical and emotional support for women coming to terms with a mastectomy.

Macmillan Paediatric Nurse – These nurses provide help and support for children with cancer as well as their loved ones. They provide this support at home and in hospital. They also aim to keep the child at home with their loved ones as much as possible.

Macmillan Lead Nurse – These nurses are senior nurse managers and help shape the future of cancer and palliative care services in their area.

How to Get a Macmillan Nurse:

If you want or need a Macmillan nurse then please speak to your GP  as you will need them to refer you.  You can also be referred by your hospital consultant, district nurse or a hospital ward sister. Please don’t hesitate to ask someone about Macmillan nurses and their availability in your area. Macmillan nurses are based across the UK but there are alternative services available in the event that there aren’t nurses available in your area.

Funding for Macmillan Nurses:

Macmillan nurses are funded 100% by donations to Macmillan Cancer Support. They provide a hugely vital service that many rely on during the toughest period of their lives. Please do donate what you can to Macmillan to keep this amazing service available to as many people as possible.

Please contact Macmillan for further information on their nurses.