On behalf of the breast team we would like to announce a new appeal 'BRAs' at Frimley Park Hospital.

The helix on the 's' is DNA, the true face and future of treatment for breast cancer. 1 in 4 women within the UK will be referred and seen with breast symptoms. Breast cancer is the commonest solid cancer in the UK, with 1 in 8 women affected within their lifetime. Everyone will know someone touched by this disease.

Why raise more money?

Do we just watch and wait?
Or aspire and move forward?
So we are raising funds to finance a research person to enable us to join future studies.

OUR VISION

Our vision is to enable breast cancer patients at Frimley Park Hospital to take part in the latest studies through the provision of the clinical research staff needed. We also want to provide the support that breast cancer patients and their families need at this difficult time in their life. This may be through improvements to the environment of care, through additional equipment needed, or through emotional support. Whatever support is given our vision is to ensure Frimley Park Hospital Breast Unit is maintained as one of the best places in the country to receive treatment.

THE NEED AND CONTEXT

Earlier in 2019, the team at Frimley Park Hospital wanted to join a very interesting study using minimally invasive surgery in patients who have chemotherapy first, but we could not due to the need for more staff. How patients are treated is changing every year as research findings continue to improve care for breast cancer patients. In order for local patients to benefit from the research trials we need additional clinical research staff.

FRIMLEY PARK HOSPITAL BREAST CANCER UNIT

Following on from the highly successful Breast Care Appeal, we are raising money to enable Frimley Park Hospital to carry out research into breast cancer. The Breast Care Appeal enabled us to purchase the very latest 3D mammography machine which is already in use and will be installed in the new Breast Cancer Unit when it is built.

Our audit of breast cancer survival, shows our 5-year survival rate is 93%, 6% higher than the national average. We treat 400 new cancers a year. In the Frimley breast unit we have contributed to many national and international breast studies. We work together and are a very cohesive, interactive and dynamic team.

The unit is planned and contracts with builders agreed. The site marked and extensive work has already been done to move departments and scanners. It is a complex business, as all these movements had to be done without disruption of patient care.

The Breast team are committed to excellence and through the years, they have introduced new techniques in breast surgery well ahead of many national and bigger units. "We continue to develop new techniques and want to be at the cutting edge of new developments

YOUR SUPPORT

a. Providing a clinical research nurse

A full time clinical research nurse, dedicated to the breast unit, will allow local breast cancer patients to take part in more national and international trials.

b. Improving the environment/Providing support

BRAs is also aiming to provide support not only to their Breast Care patients but also their partners who are often also in need of support. No one wants to be a patient in a Breast Cancer Unit but if you do find yourself a patient, we want the new unit to be the best place to be treated, with the most up-to-date facilities. The Breast Care team are very dedicated, passionate and strive to provide the best possible care to the 400 new cancer patients they treat every year. In addition they see over 5000 patients in clinic for benign breast disease and family history. They have a great vision of what they would like the new unit to be.

Thank you:
We are grateful for our patients, who's courage is the teams main driver to look to the future in confidence. We have celebrated a successful fundraising campaign of three years and the amazing spirit of giving of our community.
Many have already helped; individuals, patients and their relatives, companies and retailers. Sally and Kim and their families from Fleet, were the main drivers of the hard work during the fundraising, when they rallied a whole community by painting 'Fleet Pink', for a whole week. And we are so lucky to have them back with us again on this appeal.

Please support your local hospital breast unit to lighten the burden on these patients and their families during their diagnosis and treatment, and help conquer this disease through research.

If you would like to help us by hosting a fundraising event, we would love to hear from you and help you in any way we can.

Email us: Bras-fhc@outlook.com