Photo by Niamh Hatfield
By Niamh Hatfield
Shoppers in Crouch End, north London, were urged to take action as two young representatives from Breast Cancer Now called on the public to support life-saving breast cancer research ahead of International Women’s Day, when women’s health issues are highlighted around the world.
As the most common cancer in the world, breast cancer affects more than 55,000 people every year in the UK alone.
Determined to help tackle those figures, Chris Makev and Nana Ankrah were speaking to the public about donations that would fund vital research and specialist nursing support.
“You can pay £12 a month, which will help fund research as well as fund the nurses,” said Makev.
He explained that regular contributions help provide specialist nurses who offer crucial support through the charity’s helpline, ensuring people diagnosed with breast cancer have someone to turn to.
Donations also fund the time and equipment needed to prepare cancer cells for research, helping scientists understand how they respond to drugs and develop more effective treatments. In addition, donations help fund campaigning and lobbying efforts to make new treatments available on the NHS.
Chris Makev and Nana Ankrah are urging the community to sign up for regular monthly donations, highlighting how consistent support improves treatment, expands care services, and helps bring new therapies to patients faster.
Early detection is vital
According to Cancer Research UK, there were 11,200 deaths from breast cancer in 2022-2024, with about 57,000 new cases diagnosed every year, meaning one in seven women affected in their lifetime. While the majority of people who get breast cancer are women, men can get the disease as well.
Early detection is key, according to the NHS, and can prevent many deaths. “While medical and surgical advancements have significantly improved treatment options over recent years, early detection remains the most critical factor. When detected early, the five-year survival rate can exceed 95%,” the NHS says.
Regular mammograms through the national screening programme are important, but self-detection often saves lives. The NHS recommends that women:
- “Undress and stand in front of a mirror. Raise your arms up above your head if you can
- “Look at the smooth outline of the lower and side parts of the breast to check that one side looks similar to the other. We can’t see the bottom of our breasts when we look down, so this can be a useful way to get to know your breasts even better
- “Press the breast with the flat of your hand using your fingers across the whole of each breast.”
Leave a Reply