Following a very busy Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, our very own Sally Shanley, a Breast Care Nurse Specialist with 25 years’ experience, gave our November talk.
Sally spoke of advances in breast care, from early days of insensitivity with patients to modern equipment for screening.
We had a run-through of breast problems that aren’t cancer – fibroadenoma, mastitis, breast calcifications (the most common reason why women are recalled after a mammogram), cyclical and non-cyclical breast pain and chest wall pain. We learned that it’s easy to sprain a pectoral muscle in a workout and that there has been an increase in breast pain since Covid, attributed to not wearing bras in lockdowns.
And with 85% of women wearing the wrong size bra, Sally told us that when fitting women for a prosthesis, she will use the right size for them and there are often comments on how much more comfortable it is.
Sally gave us a fascinating history of the bra: the very first bra in 1600BC, how Roman women had their breasts bound as they got older, the change in construction because of the 1920s metal shortage, bandeau bras of the flapper era, the development of cup sizes, the bullet bra of the 1940s-50s and the first sports bra.
There was an update on screening and statistics: in the UK, women over 50 who are registered with a GP are called for screening every three years (if not called, you can call the screening service) until age 70, after which you can self-refer. At the moment, the first call is at 50-53 but there is a scheme in study phase to start at 47-50. 80% of breast cancers are in women over 50; one in three are in women over 70. There are 4-500 male breast cancer cases a year.
Sally took us through when to check our breasts for changes (once a month, mid cycle pre-menopause if you tend to get lumpy before a period) and showed us diagrammatic and video guides to how to examine and the changes to look out for. We were given goodie bags packed with useful information and checking guides from Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Care and breast cancer charity Coppafeel.
Some myth-busting took us through hereditary cancers, breast implants, technology, deodorants and underwired bras.
We also had an opportunity to purchase some of Sally’s beautifully-presented hand-made brooches and key rings, with the proceeds going to Coppafeel.
A big thank you to Sally for an interesting and valuable talk.
Coffee mornings
Friday 26th November - Coffee Morning on Zoom, 10.30. The Zoom link will be sent out nearer the time to our list of East End WI members and friends.
Friday 10th December - in-person, café to be confirmed
December meeting
Thursday 16th December - Christmas social and craft session We are hoping to raise some some funds for the EEWI, so please feel free to bring along any of your crafted items for a sale table. We will also have a raffle (any prizes for the raffle would be welcomed).
Coming up in the new year
January - a talk on the climate crisis and a coffee morning at Tate Britain
February - estate planning
March - International Women's Month
