{"id":348,"date":"2021-10-22T13:51:52","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T12:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/centreforjournalismprojects.co.uk\/kentconnect\/?p=348"},"modified":"2021-10-22T14:03:54","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T13:03:54","slug":"check-yourself-breast-cancer-awareness-month-comes-to-medway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/centreforjournalismprojects.co.uk\/kentconnect\/2021\/10\/22\/check-yourself-breast-cancer-awareness-month-comes-to-medway\/","title":{"rendered":"Check yourself: Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to Medway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every year <\/strong>around 11,500 women<\/strong> and 85 men die from breast cancer in the UK and since it was launched in 1985 we have celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October. Intended to encourage women to get regular mammograms and be aware of the dangers of breast cancer, events, parties and lunches have been hosted across the globe; and tomorrow Medway rugby football club is holding a ladies lunch to support the cause. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrating their 90th season, the club is hosting 120 guests at their charity lunch and rugby match on Saturday. President of the Medway club, Mark Marriott, says that he is \u2018delighted to host a very worthy cause\u2019 while organiser, Sheila Dance, hopes the event will continue to grow being so personal to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said; \u201cI sadly lost my sister in 2012 to breast cancer,  so it was obviously a cause very close to my own heart. We started it up in 2013 with 36 women, to, two years ago in 2019 we actually had over 140.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly everyone attending the event has been affected by cancer in some way and Sheila excels at bringing the community together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had women attend over the years who’ve actually been undergoing treatment at the time and then come back the following year when they\u2019re in remission. It’s good to see the success stories,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 85% of women outlive breast cancer by up to five years, therefore life can be prolonged, and lived to its maximum with the help of fundraisers like Sheila\u2019s at the rugby club. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Money raised throughout Breast Cancer Awareness month can also fund the advancement of treatment, and help people get diagnosed early so the cancer can be hit before it becomes too aggressive or spreads. Charity\u2019s like \u2018CoppaFeel\u2019 encourage women to get checked and be aware of their natural bodies, so they can be aware of a change. This service is vital. In October last year a research charity, Breast Cancer Now, found that almost half of women in the UK did not check their breasts regularly for potential signs of cancer. One of these women was Sarah Dixon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarah\u2019s story began when she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at just 33 years old. It’s said that 1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime, but Sarah never imagined she would be par of that 50 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said; \u201cIt was the fear of not being able to live and have fun with the people that I loved the most anymore, it was the fear of not being here, of missing out on life because of something that I didn’t have any control over and maybe I could have more control over. I think that was the biggest thing I struggled with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Sarah, her journey started with mild symptoms, she felt tired in the months leading up to her diagnosis. A visit to the doctors assured her it was nothing serious, a sinister explanation was never discussed or explored. Then, while staying at her mum\u2019s house with partner Jake, Sarah discovered a lump, but with the help of her dog Larry, and the phenomenon that is animal instinct. <\/p>\n\n\n\n