Money raised through this year’s Pink Rose Appeal will enable Addenbrooke’s to invest in more leading-edge research, specialist equipment and improved patient care to help save the lives of women treated in Cambridge for the disease that now affects one in eight women.
Every year, money from the Pink Rose Appeal makes an enormous difference to the lives of women with breast cancer who are treated at the Cambridge Breast Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
The 2011 Pink Rose campaign raised enough money for the surgical team at the Cambridge Breast Unit to purchase a specimen x-ray machine. The device enables surgeons at the hospital to analyse tissue samples removed from patients during an operation. With the ability to check specimens on the spot – rather than waiting several hours – surgeons can more accurately remove cancerous tissue. They can also spot any unexpected abnormalities and assess how best to address them during the procedure – reducing the need for follow up surgery. This lowers patient risk and helps smooth operating schedules, meaning more women can be operated on and more lives can be saved. So far more than seventy patients have benefited from the acquisition of the machine.
Thanks to the Pink Rose Appeal, research into breast cancer is also moving forward apace. In April the Cambridge Breast Cancer Research Unit – which is part-funded by the Pink Rose Appeal – played a key role in a major global research breakthrough that could revolutionise breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The findings identified ten new types of breast cancer grouped by common genetic features – a discovery that could pave the way for much more accurate diagnoses and precisely targeted, personalised treatments tailored to each woman.
The study was lead by Carlos Caldas, Director of the Cambridge Breast Cancer Research Unit, who said: “I truly believe an unprecedented opportunity to beat or control breast cancer is within reach. Yet maintaining this work requires constant investment. For patients and their families, now and in the future, the value of continued research and improved treatment funded by the Pink Rose Appeal is absolutely priceless.”
He continued: “Without the immense generosity of donors and Pink Rose Appeal fundraisers, we could not purchase the latest equipment or maintain the high quality clinical research so desperately needed to improve treatments, test novel approaches and ultimately give more women the very best possible chance of survival. I hope this will inspire as many people as possible to support this year’s Pink Rose Appeal.”
Glynis Harris of Fulbourn, who held a garden party this summer to support the Breast Unit, said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time just before turning 60 in January. All our celebration plans were put on hold while I underwent treatment at Addenbrooke’s so we decided to host an unofficial birthday party in July to mark the end of my chemotherapy with family, friends and neighbours. Organising the event really gave me something to focus on and look forward to. When asked to donate to the Pink Rose Appeal instead of bringing presents, my guests were more than happy to give generously. Many of them also gave raffle prizes, which enabled us to raise even more money. I am so grateful for the treatment that I have received and it means so much to know that my party will make a difference for other breast cancer patients. When we handed our cheque over to the charity, we were shown the quiet room that it will help fund – a lovely tranquil place that patients can relax in when they visit the unit for treatment.”
Michelle Gray, Head of Community Fundraising at ACT said: “Whether it’s morning coffee, afternoon tea, a pamper party, cocktail soiree, picnic, bingo night or black tie dinner, a Pink Rose Party can be as grand or informal as you like. Most importantly, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy quality time with family and friends while making an invaluable contribution to advances in breast cancer research and treatment. Whatever the event, you will be doing something amazing that will make a big difference to thousands of mums, sisters, grandmas, daughters, aunts, cousins and friends affected by the disease.”
This year, as well as collecting donations from their guests, Pink Rose fundraisers will also be able to sell Pink Rose pin badges. This delicate accessory makes it easy for anyone to proudly show their support for a wonderful cause.
For more information about the Pink Rose Appeal or a fundraising pack, please contact Michelle Gray, Head of Community Fundraising at ACT on 01223 217757, email michelle.gray@addenbrookes.nhs.uk or go to www.actcharity.org.uk/pinkrose
Notes
In the past 25 years, incidences of breast cancer have increased by 50%. The disease is diagnosed in around 48,000 UK women a year. An estimated 550,000 people living in the UK today have been diagnosed with breast cancer of which around 11,500 women a year will die each year as a result.
The Pink Rose Appeal began in 2004 and is managed by ACT, the dedicated charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals. It's thanks to the hard work and generous backing of many loyal supporters that the Appeal continues to raise significant sums for breast cancer research and treatment at Addenbrooke's.
In 2008, a large proportion of Pink Rose Appeal funds went towards building the £2 million Cambridge Breast Cancer Research Unit, a pioneering, highly specialist centre. Operating alongside the Cambridge Breast Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, it is part of a multidisciplinary approach that is dramatically increasing our understanding of the disease and how to treat it.
Thanks to this type of research, early stage breast cancer is now far easier to diagnose and more effective forms of personalised treatment are becoming available, with almost two out of three patients now expected to outlive the disease beyond 20 years.
Funds are also invested in the latest equipment and additional amenities to make the patient experience as good as it can be, from an emotional as well as a clinical point of view. Recently a quiet room was fitted out at the Breast Cancer Unit to offer women a tranquil place for reflection at a stressful and sensitive time.
The high standards of the Cambridge Breast Unit are reflected in excellent results:
· The 10-year overall survival rate for all women treated is 80.3% – compared to a national average of 72%
· This survival rate is the highest in the East of England and on a par with the best centres in Europe.
________________________________________________