D I A R Y - O C T O B E R 1 9 9 9
For those of you who've been keeping up with the site and the diary you'll realise that this is the first time I have had a chance to update this page since June, this has been due to a lot of other work commitments (I'm an artist) over the summer. Suddenly though it is October again and Breast Cancer Awareness month - this means it's now an unbelievable four years since Marie and I first started this site.
As many of you know the site was started by myself and Marie Nally for the 1995 Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and some of our initial aims and objectives from that time are now starting to happen. However, following Marie's death in July last year maintaining the site has become an increasingly difficult task - Marie had an unbelievably thorough knowledge of the UK health system and all the Breast Cancer organisations listed on the site. As a patient and campaigner for the rights of women whose lives are affected by Breast Cancer she was exceptionally well placed to deal with all the email etc. that we received to the site. However, inevitably as time passes it is increasingly difficult for me to remain up to date with all the changes that are happening with organisations and Breast Cancer related news. I have updated the feedback page with messages received over the last few months - but again this is part of the site that I am now planning to 'fade out'.
I am currently still dealing with the email I receive to the site but I am referring many questions onto relevant organisations (I must thank Lyn Duffus here for her help with much of the email I receive). On a more positive note many organisations we listed now have there own web sites, since January The Women's Environmental Network and the Breast Care Campaign have both come on-line. I am slowly linking through directly to these sites from the contact list rather than trying to maintain an ever increasing number of pages. The Bacup site is particularly comprehensive and has a useful list of links to other UK sites.
Both Breast Cancer Care and the UK Coalition launched their own sites in October '98 and with time I hope that these organisations will be able to provide useful email contacts - in the meantime I will continue to answer email to this site but please be patient if it takes me a while to get back to you.
Lastly I'd like to mention that the Women's Environmental Network report 'Putting Breast Cancer on the Map' has now been published (see below) and it opens with a dedication to Marie by Helen Lynn which I was very touched by, Marie was involved in the early stages of the project and I know would wish them every success with distributing their findings.
Nina Pope 13th of October 1999
(UKBCA@somewhere.org.uk)
* * * Teresa Donne is hosting a fashion show of eveningwear in aid of the Cambridge Cancer Help Centre on Friday 22nd October. Some of the models have had breast surgery and the other models have friends or relations who have cancer and want to help the cause.
The show is at the MUMFORD THEATRE, CAMBRIDGE
Tickets £5 from the theatre 01223 352932.
* * * The Women's Environmental Network (WEN) have now published their ground-breaking research into the possible links between breast cancer and environmental pollution. Putting Breast Cancer on the Map asked women to complete a questionnaire and produce a map of their local community. The results show the regional incidence of breast cancer and local sources of environmental pollution and may help highlight potential causes of breast cancer. The research was funded by the National Lottery Charities Board of England.
Helen Lynn, project co-ordinator, explains some of the project's goals: "We are seeking responses from as many women in the UK as possible and we are working closely with breast cancer support groups. We want to find out why, for example, incidence of breast cancer is up to 40% higher in some parts of the country than others."
You can read more about the project on WEN's new website but their contact details are also listed below:
The Women's Environmental Network
87 Worship St
London EC2A 2BE
Tel: 0171 247 3327/9924
Fax: 0171 247 4740General WEN e-mail: wenuk@gn.apc.org
Putting Breast Cancer on the Map: artemis@gn.apc.org
Genetics: testtube@gn.apc.orghttp://www.gn.apc.org/wen/
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In January I heard from Dr Geoffrey Farrer-Brown about the exhibition of paintings by Susan Macfarlane called A Picture of Health. The catalogues for this exhibtion are still available from a new address, and the exhibition is still touring, below is an updated list of forth coming venues:
- Sept 27th - Nov 7th - Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
- Nov 8th - Dec 30th - Regents College, Inner Circle, Regents Park, London.
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Thanks to Easynet for hosting these pages.About these pages: Contact Nina Pope - UKBCA@somewhere.org.uk