Hello
We still have availability for the Younger Women’s Forum in London on the 1st and 2nd July.
Would you like to meet up with other younger women to share your experiences, get your questions answered about the medical management of breast cancer in younger women, find out how healthy eating and exercise can benefit you and join the moving forward workshops.
Breast Cancer Care’s Younger Women’s Forums are designed to do all these things and much more! Forums are open to anyone aged 20-45 who has been diagnosed with primary breast cancer within the last three years. The two-day programme of talks, workshops and social time, including all meals and accommodation, is completely free of charge.
A programme of the event with speaker details is attached, if you have any questions or would like to request a booking form please don’t hesitate in giving us a call on 0845 077 1893 or email <script type=“text/javascript”>eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%79%6f%75%6e%67%65%72%77%6f%6d%65%6e%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%22%3e%79%6f%75%6e%67%65%72%77%6f%6d%65%6e%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’))</script>
Best wishes
Steph
Specialist Services Team
Am I hoping for too much? I don’t count as a “younger woman” any more according to BCC, even though my onc said I was young (bless 'im!) and I was too young for screening programme at 48 (I’m now 49) so I found my lump on my own. I am pre-menopausal and hadn’t even started to think about menopause, I (try to) have an active sex life, I have kids still at school, I have the same sort of money worries younger women have, I work full time (when this disease allows), and all the topics mentioned on the programme would be just as relevant for me as for someone four years younger than me.
I know the idea of “in-betweeners” has been broached before, but do you think you could possibly have a bit of a think about other groups? It may not even be related to age as nowadays there are lots of women who have babies in their 30s for example who have the same kinds of issues as younger women.
Just a quiet request and not a moan at all, it’s great that you’re putting on these forums.
Absolutely agree with you CM even though i am ‘only’ 45 i feel like i would be an ‘oldie’ at one of these forums and have all the same issues you mention, except the children. Looking at the age of many women on here i would have thought that the majority are between 40 and 60.
Sal
Hello ladies
I have passed your comments onto the Services Team.
Many Thanks
June, moderaator
Hello All
We do have a number of other services and events you may find helpful such as our - Information sessions breastcancercare.org.uk/about-us/our-services/local-support/information-sessions/ these events cover some of the subjects also covered at the forums such as Lymphoedema, healthy eating and exercise after treatment.
We also have our live chat on line sessions on a Thursday night that give you the opportunity to speak to others in real time with a specialist nurse on hand for information, as well as our helpline and other services. Please do contact our helpline for more information on the events nearest to you.
I would also be happy to discuss any questions or queries you have regarding attending the forum, the number is 0845 0771893.
Best wishes
Steph
Specialist Services Team
I would just like to add my concurrence with what CM and Salcha have said. In fact I’m just fed up hearing that ‘younger’ women have special and unique concerns that somehow are supposed not to exist in those over 40.
We are ALL breast cancer sufferers/survivors so why can’t we all be given equal attention?
I don’t think anyone is saying that younger women (i’m 36) are “special” but we do have different concerns to someone who is say 60. So the forums have sessions on things like fertility, which is probably not a concern to someone who is past child-bearing age. The younger womens forum I went to had people up to age 45 and there were more women in their 40’s than their 30’s or 20’s. But yes, there should be forums for people who are not ‘younger’ too as some of the sessions are applicable to everyone e.g. diet, exercise, surgery.
I did find it useful meeting women of my same age as everyone I’d met in hospital or during chemo were in their 60’s and as nice as they all were, I wanted to meet some people in the same situation as me. So I personally think they are a great thing, well done BCC.
I’m 33 and am really concerned about the fertility element (obviously not as much as the “getting better” bit!!) and am really looking forward to meeting people my age who will understand. My friends are all supportive, but they’re all having babies at the moment. We were going to start trying this year and now the BEST case scenario will be trying in about 6 years time - but the odds are stacked against this.