On the pulse - 11th November 2011

On the pulse...


Cancerkin's News Update.....


Christmas is coming...

The festive season is fast approaching and Cancerkin is gearing up for its holiday celebrations. We will be holding our annual Christmas Tombola and sale on Wednesday 7th December 2011 from 10am to 4pm outside the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital. Last year prizes ranged from boxes of chocolates to bottles of champagne and meals for two, and we hope this year will be even better! There will also be lots of lovely gifts, cards, books and, of course, mince pies on offer. We do hope to see you there.

If you would like to donate a prize – perhaps a box of chocolates or a gift set – please do get in touch. Maybe your business or workplace would be interested in helping make the event a success – past donations have included cinema tickets, restaurant vouchers and hair cuts. Please contact Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323 to find out more.


We are also looking for helpers to join our wonderful team of volunteers on the day. We need help running the tombola, holding collection tins and handing out mince pies. If you are free for an hour or two on 7th December, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Laura at l.smith@cancerkin.org.uk or call 0207 830 2323.


Therapies update...

This month’s patient support group will take place on Tuesday 29th November 2011 from 11am to 1pm. From 11am, the group will be visited by Ansuya Padhiar, a representative from leading mastectomy lingerie and swimwear provider Nicola Jane. From 12pm, wig and hair piece specialists Trendco will join the group.


Also on 29th November Cancerkin will run a pilot art therapy class from 1.30pm to 3pm. The class will be facilitated by Kirsty Nicholson, who has a Masters in Art Therapy from Roehampton University, is registered with the Health Professionals Council and is a member of the British Association of Art Therapists.


To reserve your place at either session, please contact Una on 020 7830 2323 or u.reynolds@cancerkin.org.uk.



In the News.....



More support needed from employers...

A breast cancer diagnosis can have implication for a woman’s job and financial situation. A review on the employment experiences of over 1,000 breast cancer patients from all over the world was published this week with interesting findings. Dr Maggi Banning from Brunel University in the UK carried out the review of ten different studies conducted between 1991 and 2010 in the USA, Canada, the UK, Sweden and Denmark, revealing a number of important trends in the experiences of breast cancer patients upon their return to work after treatment.

The review showed that some women welcomed the structure and distraction brought about by the return to work and a normal routine, whilst others were concerned about their physical capacity for work after treatment and about their employers’ expectations. Around half of the women in the study could no longer afford to stay out of work, some missed treatment sessions to prevent taking time off, and lack of sick pay and concerns about losing their job and were prevalent. Some felt the importance of their work or their work aspirations had changed or reduced. Many women found treatment side-effects affected their health and some struggled with loss of confidence and emotional problems.

In terms of employer’s attitudes to women returning after breast cancer, findings were mixed. Employer’s expectations of the women’s work capacity varied, and while some employers and colleagues were found to be supportive, others were not. Some women were able to change roles or reduce working hours but others were refused this, with certain employers even insisting they resign or retire. Some women found employers and colleagues judged them upon or were misled by their physical appearance, leading to a lack of sympathy and support and many people not realising the residual effects of treatment.

The review makes a number of recommendations for both employers and health professionals to better manage the process of returning to work. Its states that employers need better education to avoid the ‘culture of ignorance’ that seems to exist, occupational health departments need to conduct ‘fitness to work’ assessments on employees with cancer and need to supply managers with guidelines of what to expect from them. Olivia Marks-Woldman, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Breast Cancer Care said of the study: “being diagnosed with breast cancer can have a major impact on many areas of a person’s life, including their employment, so it’s concerning to see women are facing unrealistic expectations from others in the workplace and might not have support from their colleagues when they return to work”.

To read more on the review, please click here and here.


Laura Smith