Breast Cancer Awareness in U.K.

Breast Cancer guide helps women make sense of disease,

DOCTOR based at Great Western Hospital has written a book to help women through their battle with breast cancer.

Professor John Boyages has written the UK’s first self-help ‘bible’ about breast cancer in a bid to help the nations 45,000 women diagnosed with the disease each year.

Professor Boyages, 52, is currently on a six-month sabbatical at GWH and wrote the 360-page handbook following a 25-year career at the forefront of oncology – a branch of medicine that deals with cancer tumours.

Breast Cancer: Taking Control was released for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and contains information about the disease, from coping with the stress of diagnosis to the various treatments and post-treatment therapies.

Professor Boyages, who treats thousands of women every year, said: “The diagnosis of breast cancer is devastating.

"Many people turn to the internet to the answers they desperately need, but the web contains an assortment of information that is often wrong, confusing or unhelpful.

“I’ve been treating patients for close to 30 years and it frustrates you when you think they’re not getting the right care.

“I think that one of the things that does happen is a mountain comes down in front of you.

“You have to make a decision but sometimes when everything stops some patients feel so lost.

“It’s vital that women have as much information as possible to ensure they get the best conventional treatment.”

Professor Boyages, who is originally from Sydney, said: “They do provide a lot. It is a world class breast cancer centre at Great Western Hospital.

"I’ve been very impressed with the team there, they see patients within two weeks.

“They have a fantastic group of surgeons.

“They’ve invested in new technology including digital screening which is good to see.

“They’ve got a world class unit and it’s been a pleasure to work there.”

Professor Boyages the founder of the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute in Sydney, Australia, has published more than 130 research and clinical articles about the subject.

Statistics released by the World Cancer Research Fund show the breast cancer rate in this country is more than four times higher than in eastern Africa, which has the lowest in the world.

The charity analysed the latest international cancer statistics which show 87.9 women per 100,000 in the UK were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.

The book, published by Boycare Publishing, is on sale priced £19.99.

For more information, and a free sample of the book, visit www.breastcancertakingcontrol.com.

Advertiser readers could have the chance of winning a free copy of the book if they make a comment on the website, stating Swindon Advertiser, to enter the draw.

(source:thisiswiltshire.co.uk)