Every October, people all over the world show their support for everyone affected by breast cancer.

Breast cancer is not a nice topic to feature in a blog post. However, I have personal reasons for doing just that; some of which have a happy ending and some of which do not.

Upcycle Arcade is supporting the Breast Cancer Now Research and Care Charity with profits from the sale of a piece of upcycled furniture

After coming of age, I was invited to attend my first mammogram screening in a large trailer round the back of Tesco’s car park. All routine and with dignity preserved. But two weeks later, I received a call to return for further tests at the Breast Cancer Clinic at Wycombe hospital, just two days hence. Here I learnt that they had “found something”. After more rigorous and invasive tests, I was sent home to wait. And it felt like a very long wait. Thankfully it wasn’t because just five days later I got the all clear.

I am lucky and grateful. I lost a dear dear friend to the disease at just 44 and my beautiful favourite hairdresser at 56.

During these five long days, I stumbled across a limited edition paint shade from my main brand – CUREiously Pink by Fusion Mineral Paint. Profits from this paint were donated to a breast cancer charity in Canada where the paint is made. I decided to extend this to a UK based charity and upcycle a bureau in this shade of shocking pink with 15% of the net profits going to Breast Cancer Now. It seemed the logical thing to do. A thank you upcycle if you like.

Upcycle Arcade’s Charity Bureau

15% of net profits from the sale of this bureau will be donated to the Breast Cancer Now UK charity. It is on sale for £450 in the Upcycled Furniture Shop.

A Few Statistics

Scary Stats

• The risk for the average woman in the UK to develop breast cancer is around 1 in 7.
• Every 10 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with breast cancer – around 5,000 women and 370 men every year.
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and is a leading cause of death in women under 50.
• 35,000 people are living with secondary (or metastatic) breast cancer when it spreads from the breast to other parts of the body. In around 5% of women, breast cancer has already spread by the time it is diagnosed.
• Every year, around 11,500 women and 81 men die from the disease – that’s nearly 1,000 deaths each month, 31 each day or one every 45 minutes.

Hopeful Stats

• 85% of women survive breast cancer for five years or more.
• Breast cancer survival is improving and has doubled in the past 40 years in the UK.
• An estimated 600,000 people are alive in the UK after a diagnosis of breast cancer. This is predicted to rise to 1.2 million in 2030.

Breast Cancer Now Charity

This charity supports anyone affected by breast cancer, “providing support for today and hope for the future.” They are an expert authority on research and is making breakthroughs and driving forward progress. Breast Cancer Now believe that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live and will be supported to live well. The need for support doesn’t end when treatment does.

They also run an app providing support – Becca – and is available from Google Play and the App Store. The Becca app gives strategies, hints and tips to empower and equip for life beyond breast cancer treatment.

The Charity’s Research Plan

To date over £243 million has been invested in breast cancer research. Currently, over 80 cutting-edge projects worth over £29 million are looking to discover how to prevent breast cancer, save lives, and help people to live well with and beyond the disease. They are looking for kinder treatments for breast cancer, that don’t come with devastating side effects and investigating how people affected by breast cancer can be better supported all the way through.

Check Regularly

Get used to checking monthly and be aware of anything that’s new or different for you. The ‘breast aware’ 5 point plan:

1. Know what’s normal for you
2. Look at your breasts and feel them
3. Know what changes to look for
4. Report any changes without delay
5. Attend routine screening if you’re 50 or over

For more detailed information check the Breast Cancer Now website.

I have cribbed and nobbled most of this information from the Breast Cancer Now website amongst others. I am clearly not a medical expert so please check out the website links for more information.