A new volunteers scheme at Salford Royal hospital is urgently seeking people to sign up to help women live life with breast cancer and beyond.
The Breast Cancer Care charity says that improved survival rates mean more women in Salford need help and support living day to day.
It needs women in Salford who have had breast cancer to help run their ‘Moving Forward’ courses, which take place over four consecutive weeks on a Tuesday.
Expert speakers provide up-to-date information and guidance throughout the course and there is full training on offer for volunteers.
Volunteers would ideally be involved each week for half a day.
As with most cancers, survival for female breast cancer is improving.
One-year survival rates for women in the UK increased from 82% in 1971-2 to 96% in 2010-11
After breast cancer treatment has finished, many women want to know how to adjust after their diagnosis and how to manage side effects of treatment.
These can include lymphoedema (incurable swelling of the arm or hand), menopausal symptoms or body confidence issues.
There are also discussions around adjusting and adapting after a breast cancer diagnosis, managing the ongoing side effects of treatment and breast awareness after surgery.
Shelley Cooke-Fox, Regional Services Manager at Breast Cancer Care, said: “Being a Moving Forward volunteer means you can make a real difference to people’s lives – it’s a service that gives immediate results, and is very rewarding.
“Our volunteers help to make other women feel welcome by sharing their own experiences of breast cancer.
“Moving Forward is a completely free service, and we’re keen to get volunteers on-board who can help people approach life after cancer treatment with increased confidence.”
Applications for volunteers are welcome from those who have had a personal diagnosis of primary breast cancer and are at least one year post diagnosis.
To find out more about becoming a Moving Forward volunteer, call 0114 2636 120 or email volunteer.hub@breastcancercare.org.uk.
