Wednesday 7 May 2014

May 2014


Things have been quiet with my blog as the art project has taken over and has been keeping me busy almost full time! Just five weeks until the exhibition opens in Aberdeen on 12th June. Things have really taken shape and there is now a website for the Project, check it out and also like and share our Facebook and Twitter pages!
http://www.breathlessbreastlessproject.org/

 I continue to learn from this whole experience. I built the website myself which was at times challenging and I was grateful for the online support team to guide me through the issues I found myself faced with. I am very grateful to have secured some sponsorship for the project from Interwell, The Fine Food Company, family and friends and Aberdeen City Council. This means we have been able to pay for domains, build a website, advertise the exhibition and print flyers and posters as well as a creating a smart stand to display at our exhibition venues.

Cancer Care.org and Macmillan have shown interest in the project and have provided us with posters and support material, Knitted Knockers – a group of volunteer knitters have provided us with a pair of wonderful bright knitted knockers, a colourful alternative to prosthesis or pads. Maggies Centre are displaying our posters and promoting the Project online for us and will be sending a support volunteer to our event.

I have been out and about networking and contacting groups / organisations via e mail and Facebook to promote the Project. I found myself at my first “Lunch & Learn – Meet The Press” a few weeks ago, which was a valuable exercise learning how and when to do press releases and provided the opportunity to meet the media from our local area.

Away from the project, life throws up it’s challenges from time to time. We had a worrying time for a short period when Paul found a lump under his arm and the doctor referred him to the hospital, who in turn wanted a biopsy and removal of the lump under general anaesthetic. March 6th was the 18 month anniversary of my mastectomy and I found myself sat at Paul’s bedside and watching him be taken down to theatre. I am very happy to say that after a stressful two week wait we received the news that the biopsy was benign and nothing to worry about. That’s was of course a massive relief and serves as another wakeup call as to how delicate this life can at times be when things hang in the balance.

It was devastating news to hear that Hannah, who was admitted to hospital on 10th February and told that her cancer had spread, died yesterday morning from advanced breast cancer. Hannah was first diagnosed just under two years ago and had a mastectomy and chemotherapy and believed that her cancer had gone. In February she found out the breast cancer was in her liver and her lungs, inoperable and incurable. Hannah was 36 years old. The Breathless Breastless Project is proud to be exhibiting two portraits of Hannah, who wished to share her journey with the world.

Recent good news from the genetics clinic, that I do not carry the BRCA1 or 2 mutation. This has a big impact on future breast care for my daughters. It’s a huge relief that they do not have to make decisions about their own genetic testing or the consequences of a positive result. They are still said to be at moderate risk of breast cancer in the future and I myself am at moderate risk of further recurrences due to family history. As such the girls will be able to obtain screening from around 35-40 rather than having to wait for the national screening program at 50. We will all remain vigilant and do our monthly breast checks.

Coppafeel is a fabulous charity set up by Kris, who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at 23. Kris has been living with the disease for five years. She continues to spend time encouraging young people to be breast aware, through events at Universities and festivals. Find out more on her website, sign up for a monthly reminder to check your breasts - http://coppafeel.org/kris-story/

 

The Breathless Breastless Project is hoping to take the exhibition to other UK venues next year, if you know a venue near you that may be interested in the exhibition, please let us know!

 

Must close for now, I have the small issue of having to finish packing boxes for a house move in a weeks time!