Breast Cancer Care

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Breast Cancer Care
Breast Cancer Care logo
Type	Support Charity
Founded	1972
Founder(s)	Betty Westgate
Headquarters	5 Great Suffolk Street, London, SE1 0NS, UK
Key people	Betty Westgate
Area served	United Kingdom
Service(s)	Helpline, Online forum, Face-to-face support sessions
Focus(es)	Health
Formerly called	Breast Care and Mastectomy Association of Great Britain
Website	www.breastcancercare.org.uk

Breast Cancer Care is a charity in the UK that provides information, practical assistance and emotional support to anyone affected by breast cancer. The organization was founded in 1972 by Betty Westgate who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1968. The organization's headquarters are located in London, with satellite offices in Sheffield, Cardiff, and Glasgow.

History

Breast Cancer Care was founded by Betty Westgate in 1972, four years after her own diagnosis of breast cancer in 1968. At the outset, the charity was called Cancer Education Voluntary Service; the name was later changed to Breast Care and Mastectomy Association of Great Britain in 1987 and again to Breast Cancer Care in 1994.

Betty’s passion for information, education and empowerment lead her to setting up the Mastectomy Association which she ran on a voluntary basis from her home in Croydon, South London, until March 1981. In 1981, the National Society for Cancer Relief (Now Macmillan Cancer Support) offered to fund the work of the Mastectomy Association to enable it to develop its full potential.

In 1989 the first office opened in Scotland. This was also the year of the first fashion show involving women with breast cancer as models. Cherie Booth QC became a Patron of Breast Cancer Care in 1997, followed by Geri Halliwell in 2000. In 2001, Breast Cancer Care opened its first office in the North of England with a fourth regional office opened in Wales in 2003.

Services

Breast Cancer Care provides a range of services to support those affected by breast cancer, their friends and family. A selection of their services according to their website include a telephone support helpline, an Ask the Nurse email service and Face-to-face multiple day services designed to ‘inform, support and connect people affected by breast cancer.’

Nursing Network

Breast Cancer Care's Nursing Network was launched as a service for healthcare professionals in 2010 and nearly 800 nurses have now joined the service.

Breast Cancer Care works closely with healthcare professionals to help ensure people affected by breast cancer get the best treatment and care available.

Breast Cancer Care Members receive support, training and information and news about Breast Cancer Care services and campaigns as well as up to date information regarding clinical developments and changes in practice. Members receive regular news updates and a magazine called Nursing Network News. They have a dedicated Helpline (telephone number 0808 800 6000) which is open to healthcare professionals in need of support or guidance.

In 2012 Breast Cancer Care hosted their first awards scheme, which recognises nurses who have gone the extra mile to make a difference with the care they offer their patients. For more information about the outstanding work represented by entries, take a look at the Nursing Network Award pages on the website.^[1]

External references

References

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