Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2017

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I wanted to use this blog post to raise awareness. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and I know many women (and men) that have suffered from this cancer type. This post is dedicated to all my friends that have been affected by breast cancer in some way. 

Whilst I may reference women in this post, it is hugely important that men be aware that they can also develop breast cancer. It appears to be a taboo subject but I personally know a man that was diagnosed with breast cancer and it is very important for men to also be aware to check for lumps.

The Breast:

Breasts are made up of fat, gland tissue and connective tissue which is divided into lobes. A network of ducts spread from these lobes towards the nipple. Breasts are not usually the exact same size as each other and they can also vary in size and shape throughout your monthly cycle. They also change with age – younger women have a lot more glandular tissue so their breasts are usually more dense. After the menopause this tissue is gradually replaced by fat, which is less dense.

Breast Cancer Symptoms:

As with all cancers; the earlier breast cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. This means ladies need to be aware of what is normal for their breasts. You need to regularly have a good old feel of your breasts so you become used to how they look and feel. That way it will be easy for you to spot any changes that may actually be cancer symptoms. Do not panic as about 90% of breast lumps are not cancerous but if you do think something is not right, it is vital that you visit your GP ASAP.

The most common symptoms of breast cancer is a lump or some thickened tissue in their breast. There are also other symptoms to watch out for:

• A change to the size or shape of one or both breasts
• Nipple discharge
• A lump in your armpit
• Dimpling on the skin of your breasts
• A rash on or around your nipples
• A change in how your nipple looks (for example it can become sunken or invert into your breast)
• A pain in your breast or armpit that is not period related

It is hugely important to know what is normal for your breasts so I fully encourage everyone to regularly feel their breasts. Just after a shower is probably the best time. 

KNOW YOUR BOOBS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!

Types of Breast Cancer:

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)

This is not cancer. LCIS means cells changes have occurred inside your breast lobes and you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the future as a result. However most women with LCIS do not get breast cancer. LCIS is also found in men but this is very rare.

If you are diagnosed with LCIS then you will need to be monitored closely. Your doctor may suggest  breast examinations every six months and mammograms every year. You may also be offered hormone therapy to lower your risk of breast cancer. This monitoring is vital as cancer is easier to treat, the earlier it is diagnosed.

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

DCIS is cancer that has developed inside some of your ducts but has not started to spread into the surrounding breast tissue. There is very little chance that this type of cancer will have spread to your lymph nodes or other parts of your body

In most cases, the main treatment for DCIS is surgery. Usually the area of DCIS and some healthy surrounding tissue will be removed. This is known as local excision. Radiotherapy may also be required after surgery to ensure any stray cells are caught and destroyed.

Tamoxifen may be prescribed for you after treatment. This is a type of hormone therapy which will help protect you from developing breast cancer again in the future.

Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer

This is the most common type of breast cancer. Around 70-80 out of every 100 breast cancer cases are invasive ductal breast cancer (80%)

This cancer will have started in the cells lining the breast ducts and it will have spread into the surrounding breast tissue.

Treatment varies depending on the staging and grading of the cancer. You may be offered surgery to remove the cancer and some surrounding healthy tissue. This will be followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy to destroy any remaining stray cells. Radiotherapy or Chemotherapy may be used to shrink the cancer before surgery. You may also be offered hormone therapy. Your specialist will discuss the options with you as they vary for every patient.

Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer

About 10% of breast cancer cases are invasive lobular carcinoma. It is mostly found in women aged between 45 and 55. This type of cancer will have started in the cells that line the lobules of your breast. This type of cancer is also found in men but it is very rare. This type of cancer can be hard to diagnose as it does not always create a firm lump in your breast nor does it show up on mammograms.

Treatment for this type of breast cancer will usually involve surgery to remove the cancer and some surrounding healthy tissue.  This will normally be followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy to destroy any stray cells left behind. Hormone therapy may also be recommended.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

This is a very rare type of breast cancer, only about 4% of breast cancer cases are inflammatory breast cancer.  The breast tissue will have become inflamed and the cancer cells will be blocking the smallest lymph node channels in your breast. This will cause your breast to become swollen, hard, read and hot to touch. It can also be painful. It may also cause nipple discharge and your nipple may become inverted.

Chemotherapy is usually the first form of treatment and that is normally followed by surgery. Radiotherapy may also be an option.

Mammograms - Screening for Breast Cancer

The NHS Breast Screening Programme means women aged between fifty and seventy are invited for breast screening every three years in the UK. Each country within the UK has their own guidelines and screening programme but the age limits in the UK have been extended to cover women between forty seven and seventy seven whilst Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have stuck with the original age guidelines.

The aim of the programme is to discover breast cancer at an early stage to give sufferers a much better chance of survival. As I mention a lot – CANCER IS EASIER TO TREAT THE EARLIER IT IS DIAGNOSED.

Women at high risk of developing breast cancer or women that have discovered lumps or breast changes may also be invited to take part in the screening programme.

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.

Breast screening is hugely important, especially for women in the age group mentioned above as well as those at high risk of developing breast cancer. If you receive an invitation for a mammogram then please do have one! If you are worried about it then you should talk to your GP or nurse as soon as you can. A mammogram can save your life!

What is a Mastectomy?

A mastectomy is the removal of a whole breast. There are five different types of mastectomy:

Simple or Total Mastectomy - This concentrates on the breast tissue itself. The surgeon removes the entire breast but does not usually remove the lymph nodes located in the armpit (although this can happen occasionally if the lymph nodes are found in the breast tissue during the surgery). No muscles are removed from underneath the breast during this type of mastectomy.

A SIMPLE OR TOTAL MASTECTOMY IS USUALLY APPROPRIATE FOR WOMEN WITH LARGE AREAS OF DCIS OR MULTIPLE DCIS. IT IS USUALLY APPROPRIATE FOR WOMEN SEEKING PREVENTATIVE MASTECTOMIES.

Modified Radical Mastectomy – This involves removal of both the breast tissue and lymph nodes. The entire breast is removed by the surgeon and an axillary lymph node dissection is performed to remove level I and II of the lymph nodes in your armpit. No muscles from underneath the breast are removed.

PEOPLE WITH INVASIVE BREAST CANCER MAY HAVE A MODIFIED RADICAL MASTECTOMY SO THAT THEIR LYMPH NODES CAN BE EXAMINED AS THIS WILL ALLOW THE SPECIALIST TO DETERMINE IF THE CANCER HAS SPREAD BEYOND THE BREAST.

Radical Mastectomy – This is the most extensive type of mastectomy and involves removing the entire breast, level I, II and III of the armpit lymph nodes and the chest wall muscles found under the breast.

RADICAL MASTECTOMIES ARE ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR PEOPLE WHOSE BREAST CANCER HAS SPREAD TO THE MUSCLES UNDER THE BREAST. THIS USED TO BE A VERY COMMON TYPE OF MASTECTOMY BUT THE MODIFIED VERSION HAS PROVED TO BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE BUT FAR LESS DISFIGURING.

Partial Mastectomy – This involves removing the cancerous part of the breast tissue and normal margins of healthy tissue around it. This is kind of like a lumpectomy, although more tissue is removed.

Subcutaneous Mastectomy (Nipple Sparing) – This is seen as a controversial option by some specialists as  all of the breast tissue is removed but the nipple is not touched and as some tissue could be left behind and develop into cancer. It can cause distortion or numbness in the nipple.

Reasons to Have a Mastectomy:

A mastectomy is a huge surgical procedure with lifelong repercussions so it isn’t for everyone. It could be the best way forward for you if you fit any of the following criteria:

*If your tumour is over 5cm

*If your breast is small and a lumpectomy would leave very little scar tissue

*If you have already undergone multiple lumpectomies to try and remove a tumour and have been unable to obtain clear margins.

*If a lumpectomy and radiation is not an option for you

*If you believe total removal of breast tissue would give you better peace of mind then a lumpectomy

Breast Reconstruction Surgery:

It may be possible for you to have your breasts reconstructed during the same surgical procedure as the mastectomy. This is known as immediate reconstruction. An advantage of this may be sparing yourself the trauma of having an empty space where your breast used to be. However, the decision to reconstruct your breast on top of having a mastectomy may be too much emotionally and physically so you may also wait months or years to have your reconstructive surgery.

There are many different techniques available for breast reconstruction, including inserting an implant or tissue from another body part.

You Are Not Alone:

Lots of people have been through this procedure, some for preventative reasons and others because they have had breast cancer. In recent years celebrities such as Sharon Osbourne, Michelle Heaton, Giuliana Rancic and Christina Applegate have all had mastectomies.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, are currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, are supporting a loved one or have lost someone you love then I'm sending you lots of love and dedicating this rather long post to you all xxxx

If you are worried about breast cancer then please do visit www.cancerresearchuk.org or make an appointment to speak with your GP ASAP.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2017

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the UK. I don’t think I need to mention why this cause is so close to my heart but I do feel it is important to get the facts and figures out there for people to see. So here are some facts about childhood cancer for you:

The cancers seen in children are usually very different to those seen in adults and “childhood” refers to any child aged between birth and fourteen years old.

There are twelve main types of childhood cancer:

*Leukaemia

*Soft Tissue Sarcomas

*Kidney Tumours

*Brain and Central Nervous System (CNS)

*Bone Tumours (Like the one Georgie had)

*Carcinomas and Melanomas

*Retinoblastomas

*Gonadal and Germ Cell Tumours

*Liver Tumours

*Sympathetic Nervous System Tumours

*Other and Unspecified Tumours

Childhood cancer is quite rare and makes up 5% of all cancers. Around 1,600 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer every year, which roughly works out at thirty one children per week. Around one in every five hundred children in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer.

The UK’s childhood cancer rates are amongst the lowest in Europe, with Northen Europe having the highest incidence rate.

Leukeamia is the most common childhood cancer. Two thirds of all childhood cancers are  leukeamia, brain and CNS tumours and lymphomas.

Surviving Childhood Cancer:

More children then ever are surviving cancer. The survival rate has doubled since the 1960’s and at least 5,600 MORE children now survive for more then five years after diagnosis.

Around 33,000 people in the UK have survived a type of childhood cancer and almost three quarters of children with cancer can now be cured of the disease.

For every ten childhood cancer sufferers – eight will now survive for more then five years after their diagnosis:

*Nearly all children diagnosed with retinoblastoma are cured.

*Survival rates for Hepatoblastoma have doubled since the 1960’s.

*Around six out of ten children diagnosed with neuroblastoma are cured.

*Eight out of ten children with kidney cancer survive the disease.

*Rhabdomyosarcoma survival rates have doubled since the 1970’s.

Childhood cancer deaths:

Cancer is the UK’s leading cause of death (from disease) in children aged up to fourteen. A fifth of all childhood deaths are down to cancer.

Brain and CNS tumours are the most common fatal type of childhood cancer.

Around two hundred and fifty children die from cancer every year in the UK.

Childhood cancer death rates have halved since the 1960’s.

Causes of Childhood Cancer:

We don’t know much about what causes childhood cancers but there are several things we do know:

*Rare genetic syndromes such as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (what Georgie had) can greatly increase a child’s risk of developing cancer.

*Children with Down ’s syndrome have a greater risk of developing leukaemia.

*2/5 retinoblastomas are linked to a faulty gene that has been inherited.

*Children that have had radiotherapy or chemotherapy in the past are at greater risk of developing a second cancer (As Georgie did)

Having watched a loved one fight childhood cancer, my heart breaks for every family going through the same thing. Sending lots of love to all the incredible children out there fighting cancer. 

I will be doing more posts throughout the month to highlight childhood cancer. I will also be doing some blogs for Children with Cancer UK so look out for those too.

My aunt has written a book about Georgie and his story as a childhood cancer sufferer. I will warn you it is a difficult read, but it does give insight into life as a family affected by this horrific disease. If you would like to read it, the book is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-George-Irene-Kappes/dp/1502741482/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1504421560&sr=1-1&keywords=For+the+love+of+George

A percentage of all sales goes to the George Pantizarka TP53 Trust, the charity founded by my family in Georgie's memory.

xx

Cancer Research UK Annual Review 2016/2017

This is one of my favourite blogs to do every year!

A frequent question myself and other CRUK volunteers are asked is "where does my donation go?" People are aware that millions are donated every year but many aren't aware of what these funds are spent on. CRUK have released their annual review and, as usual, I'm going to break it down so that people can see where the money is going.

Let me first explain that 80p of every £1 donated is spent on research. That is a huge amount and probably one of the best in the third sector. The other 20p is used to raise funds for the future

Let me first point out that CRUK does not receive any government funding for their research. Government funds for medical research are spent via the Medical Research Council and National Institue for Health Research. CRUK is an independent medical research charity so the money spent on our research is all generated by our supporters.

£647 Million was raised by CRUK Supporters between April 2016 and March 2017:

*£187 Million was raised by legacies (People leaving money in their wills)

*£190 Million was raised by regular donations (there are over 1 million people making regular donations)

*£102 Million was raised by trading (the CRUK shops)

*£65 Million was raised by over 600,000 people taking part in events (for example Race for Life, Shine, Dryathlon etc…..)

*92 Million was raised by Royalties and Grants (Royalties = generated from treatments developed by CRUK, Grants = received by CRUK institutes)

*11Million was raised in other forms – i.e. investments and rental income from the lease of a lab.

9/10 donations are less than £10 which goes to show that every penny really does count and giving what you can afford, even if it isn’t a lot, really can make a huge difference.

£432 Million was spent on Research between April 2016 and March 2017:

*112 Million was spent on researching the biology of cancer

*43 Million was spent on lung cancer research

*35 Million was spent on bowel cancer research

*33 Million was spent on breast cancer research

*22 Million was spent on prostate cancer research

*18 Million was spent on leukaemia cancer research

*17 Million was spent on pancreatic cancer research

*13 Million was spent on brain cancer research

*13 Million was spent on ovarian cancer research

*13 Million was spent on over 100 cancers including stomach and testicular

*12 Million was spent on oesophageal cancer research

*12 Million was spent on melanoma research

*9 Million was spent on non Hodgkin lymphoma research

*5 Million was spent on sarcoma research

*4 Million was spent on liver cancer research

*4 Million was spent on myeloma research

*4 Million was spent on bladder cancer research

*4 Million was spent on kidney cancer research

*4 Million was spent on neuroblastoma research

*3 Million was spent on cervical cancer research

*3 Million was spent on skin cancer (excluding melanoma) research

*3 Million was spent on pharyngeal cancer research

If you are upset or concerned that not enough is being spent on a particular cancer type, please be reassured that the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is there to spread research throughout it’s partners and make sure research is not being duplicated by charities – so a cancer type particularly close to your heart may be receiving more research from another charity partner within the NCRI.

The rest of the CRUK funds for this financial year were spent like this:

*41 Million was spent on information and policy work such as early diagnosis, prevention, campaigning, communicating health messages and engaging patients, the public and health professionals

*108 Million was spent on fundraising such as marketing to engage new supporters and developing new ways to fundraise

*85 Million was spent on trading costs such as stock, rent, electricity and salaries for CRUK shops and their managers.

Improving Fundraising:

It is important to note that since July 2017 CRUK has become an opt in charity, which means supporters are asked if they wish to give the charity permission to contact them before asking for more support – if you choose to not give permission then you will not receive any marketing or fundraising requests from the charity.

Key Stats:

*over 40,000 volunteers (like me!) gave millions of hours to the charity during the last year.

*12,000 queries were answered by the Helpline nurses

*220 clinical trials were supported by CRUK across the UK

*12,000 face to face engagements with healthcare organisations took place during the year.4

*2.6 Million read the CRUK science blog

*15.7 Million pounds were raised during the third Stand Up To Cancer TV show.

*770 People (like me!) joined the Patient Involvement Network to help improve CRUK’s work

*116 PHD students started working for CRUK this year

If you would like to know more specific information, including the successes the charity had during this financial year, please check the annual review, which is available to download on the CRUK website.

A huge thank you to everyone that supports CRUK every year – we are making progress!!

Cancer Types – Neuroblastoma

I think most people have heard of Bradley Lowery by now, but just in case you haven’t, he was a young boy who touched the nation’s hearts as a young football fan stricken by a rare childhood cancer. He united the football world with “cancer has no colours” as many tried to create lovely experiences and memories for him during the last few months of his life.

Sadly Bradley passed away on Friday 7^th July 2017 at the age of six. Like so many other people across the UK, I have been touched by Bradley’s cheeky smile and he has inspired me to restart this blog. Today’s post is dedicated to this wonderful boy and his family.

What is Neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer, mostly affecting children under the age of five. In the UK there are around one hundred cases diagnosed per year. It is rarely seen in older children, teenagers or adults.

Neuroblastoma gets its name from the nerve cells it develops in – neuroblasts:

                *neuro = nerves

                *blast = early developed cells

                *oma = tumour

Neuroblastoma usually starts in the abdomen – in the adrenal glands or the nerve tissue found at the back of the abdomen. As with many cancers, it spreads to other parts of the body such as bones, liver and skin via the blood and lymphatic system. This is usually found in half of neuroblastoma sufferers.

Causes of Neuroblastoma:

Unfortunately not much is known about the causes of this cancer type at present, although research is being carried out. Around 1/100 cases will find a family history of this cancer type but this is very rare.

 Symptoms of Neuroblastoma:

Symptoms for this cancer type, like most of them, will depend on which part of the body the cancer has started in. If the cancer has already spread then symptoms may appear in more than one place.

As neuroblastoma usually develops in the abdomen the most common symptom is a lump in the tummy, which can cause the child’s stomach to swell and cause discomfort and pain.

In the occasion that it affects the spinal cord it can cause numbness and loss of movement in the lower body, as well as weakness.

On rare occasions it can appear as a lump in the neck and can cause breathlessness or difficulty swallowing.

Neuroblastoma tumours usually spread to the bones which can cause pain and swelling as well as difficulty walking.

Any of these symptoms should be urgently investigated by a doctor. It is hugely important that any lumps found in children, especially those in the abdomen, are referred to a specialist within 2 days of being presented at A&E or to your GP. If you are concerned by symptoms found in your child, please push your medical professional for an urgent referral.

Diagnosing Neuroblastoma:

As with most cancers, there are a variety of tests which can be used to diagnose the cancer as well as determine its stage. These tests are not normally painful but some may require sedation, especially for young children.

Tests could include:

*Blood tests

*Chest X Ray

*CT, MRI or Bone Scans

*A biopsy or bone marrow biopsy

*Urine tests

*MIBG –this is a particular scan to diagnose neuroblastoma as they absorb a substance called MIBG. The doctor will attached a small amount of radioactive iodine to MIBG and inject it into the bloodstream. The neuroblastoma cells pick up the MIBG and the iodine shows up on the scan.

Treating Neuroblastoma:

As with all cancers, treatment for neuroblastoma is dependent on the stage of the tumour, and the risk group of the patient – i.e. how likely is the cancer to return at a later date.

The most common treatment for this cancer type are:

*Surgery – the surgeon will try to remove the whole tumour, or as much as possible. If the tumour hasn’t spread then surgery may be the only treatment required, providing the surgeon is able to get the whole tumour and clear margins around it.

*Chemotherapy – This can be used to kill the cancer cells. Doctors may use two or three different types of chemo. The main side effects will include tiredness, hair loss, nausea and an increased infection risk. A central line will be inserted for the child to receive the chemo and will be kept in place for the duration of their treatment. We used to call Georgie’s his wiggly when he was little.

*Radiotherapy – Children with advanced neuroblastoma may require targeted radiotherapy, which is similar to the MIBG process I explained above. However, children needing this may require a stem cell transplant as the dose of radioactive iodine may damage the bone marrow.  A stem cell transplant is done by doctors who collect some blood stem cells from the patient before treatment and store them until the child is ready to have them injected back into their body after treatment.

*Immunotherapy - This is a type of drug treatment used to help the immune system kill cancer cells. It’s a biological therapy which is often used if there is a high risk of the child developing neuroblastoma again.

Recurrent neuroblastoma (where the disease had been treated previously but has returned) depends on a number of factors. This can be treated the same way it was treated previously but usually the treatment is much more intense and will include a number of the treatments mentioned above. Clinical trial treatments may also be offered.

Long Term Effects of Neuroblastoma:

Your specialist should talk to you about the possible long term effects of cancer on your child. As treatments improve these effects are lessening but they are still there. The risks include fertility issues, hearing problems, changes in the heart and kidneys, growth problems and the risk of developing a second cancer. Childhood cancer sufferers should be closely monitored as they grow up and should have access to doctors and information regarding these effects.

Research is being conducted into various issues surrounding this cancer type, including causes, diagnosis and improving treatments for it. It is a particularly cruel cancer as it affects young children and a lot of work is being put into trying to find out more about it to improve survival rates.

Obviously, your child being diagnosed with cancer is unimaginable and truly horrific. Should you be concerned then there are people that can help:

The Neuroblastoma Society is run by parents and grandparents of neuroblastoma sufferers and they have a befriending scheme for affected families.

The Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) produces booklets for parents and siblings of childhood cancer sufferers which can be incredibly helpful. I have very dear friends that are part of this group and can personally vouch for their dedication and knowledge.

You can also contact the Cancer Research UK information nurses on 0808 800 4040 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. They can offer advice on what support is available. This is a Freephone number.

Regular readers of this blog will know that childhood cancer is something my family has been affected by, and a subject very close to my heart. I send lots of love and good wishes to all sufferers and their families.

xxx

Volunteers Week 2017 - Why You Should Consider Volunteering

"The greatest gift you can give is your time because when you give your time you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back"

In October 2017  I will be marking seven years as a volunteer for Cancer Research UK. In that time I have been part of some incredible things and have had some of my proudest moments. But the defining part of my life as a volunteer is the amazing people I have been able to meet and get to know. The people I now call my friends. The people I call my volunteer family.

It's no secret to those that know me that volunteering for Cancer Research UK is one of my favourite aspects of my life. I meet incredible people and do incredible things on a weekly basis. I am challenged, I am inspired and I am frequently left in awe of the people I get to meet. I openly admit that if I ever won a significant amount of money I would leave full time employment and volunteer for the charity on a full time basis.

The charity have tens of thousands of volunteers. Most of them are like me; willing to donate large portions of their spare time to the cause we believe in. My spare time is precious, I don't have a lot of it. I genuinely have to believe in something and really want to do it if I'm going to drag myself away from the sofa to do it. Whenever I meet a new volunteer and they ask for tips I always say the same thing "once you've volunteered for one thing, you'll become slightly obsessed and find yourself volunteering more and more" that is true. I started out as just an ambassador. Now I volunteer to help at events like Race for Life, I've spoken at volunteers conferences and various other things.

When I first started volunteering my mum was really worried. I have been surrounded by cancer for almost my whole life. I’ve lost many people. I’ve experienced much sadness and loss at the hands of cancer. She couldn’t understand why I would want to be associated with the subject in such a full on sort of way. At first I couldn’t understand why but gradually I came to realise that my mum was worried that I would develop attachments to people who would eventually pass away and make the hole in my heart caused by all the loss even bigger. The truth is my mum was right about this.

I had known Dawn Green for many many years. There are not enough words to describe how wonderful this lady was. In 2008 Dawn was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP).

Pseudomyxoma Peritonei is a very rare type of cancer that usually begins in your appendix as a small growth, called a polyp. Or, more rarely, it can start in other parts of the bowel, the ovary or bladder. This polyp eventually spreads through the wall of your appendix and spreads cancerous cells to the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum). These cancerous cells produce mucus, which collects in the abdomen as a jelly like fluid called mucin.

Dawn was given just three months to live and the cancer was so rare that her doctors didn’t know much about it at all. Whilst fighting the disease Dawn noticed a distinct lack of emotional support for people fighting this form of cancer.

Dawn decided to set up a charity to help others in her situation. Pseudomyxoma Survivor aims to provide emotional support for anyone dealing with this type of cancer and to prevent anyone feeling alone or isolated during their fight against the disease.

Dawn put PMP on the map. She worked tirelessly for those suffering. She raised money, she raised awareness, she helped everyone she could across the world. How she did it I will never know as most of the time she was struggling to survive the illness herself. She had major major operations and each time I held my breath waiting for the news that she hadn’t made it. But she defied the odds time and time again. I got used to this.

Dawn was a funny, kind, crazy, caring, interesting woman. She was a mum with so much fierce love for her two girls and her dog. She was an amazing friend. She was simply one of the best, and most inspirational, people I ever had the honour of meeting. The world is emptier without her. A sadder place. There is definitely a hole without Dawn for many people, myself included. I really hope she is at peace and reunited with her beloved Dad now.

So yes, my mum was right; my heart is at risk of more sadness by being involved with Cancer Research UK. But I really wouldn’t have it any other way. The people I have met are my friends, they provide me with inspiration. They look out for me. They make me laugh. They make me want to do more to help others. They hold a very special place in my heart. For Dawn we will keep on at Cancer and we will carry on helping others just like she did, hopefully with the same humour, passion and kindness she displayed to those that knew and loved her.

If you've ever considered donating some time to a cause then I can hand on heart recommend Cancer Research UK. The charity hugely appreciates their volunteers and go out of their way to make you feel informed, inspired and important. You'll meet people who will hopefully become good friends and you'll come away feeling like you've really made a difference.

There are many ways to volunteer:
Cancer Campaigns Ambassador - We ambassadors are a group of passionate supporters working hard to help CRUK effectively influence politicians, engage the local media in their campaigns and try to help them save lives. Our stories, experiences and passion have become one of CRUK’s most powerful campaigning tools and are vital part of their work.

As an ambassador the activities are varied and interesting:
* Communication with local politicians and parliamentary representatives; flagging up our campaign issues and persuading them to back us and take positive action on our behalf.
* Engaging with our local and regional press; securing coverage for our campaigns and raising awareness in our local area.
* Lobbying for specific cancer related campaigns.
I cannot find words big enough to describe how amazing I find my fellow ambassadors. We have formed a close group and we support, encourage and work together to make a real difference. It is a true honour to count myself as part of this inspiring group of people. If this sounds like something you might be interested in then I can promise you would be welcomed with open arms :)

Volunteering at an event- I  have volunteered at Race for Life a few times and it was brilliant. The atmosphere is always buzzing and the people I meet are infectious in their enthusiasm. There is also Shine, as well as Relay for Life and various other events such as marathons etc... These volunteer roles are perfect if you don't fancy partaking in a sports event but would like to be part of the atmosphere and support those taking part.

Volunteering in a shop- I'm really keen to get my grandad volunteering in one of the CRUK shops as I worry about him getting bored at home now he's retired. I've never met a CRUK shop volunteer who wasn't friendly, helpful and chatty. They are lovely people. This type of role would be perfect if you have a few hours to kill during the working day and would like to get yourself out of the house for a few hours! 

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the types of volunteering positions available with the charity. For more information you should take a look here: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/volunteer/help-at-an-event