YOUNG WOMEN & BREAST CANCER :

Peterborough Breast Cancer Support Group for Younger Women.
This group is run by young women for young women (up to 45 years of age) and are there to lend support, friendship and a shoulder to cry on.

With more young women being diagnosed, although they share many of the issues of older women, they also have different issues as noted below:The two breast care nurses who attend the main group also attend these meetings,. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month (except January) at the Robert Horrell Macmillan Centre, Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough. 1pm - 3pm. they have open and speaker meetings. if you would like further information please contact:
Tess - 01733 241933 or Sheryl - 01733 242249

No one wants to hear that they have been diagnosed with breast cancer and the impact this may have on a younger person can be enormous. It very often highlights the different needs a younger woman has. You may have questions on the following:

• How and what to tell your children (if you have children)
• Informing the school
• Relationship with partner/family
• What happens if the chemotherapy affects your fertility
• Possible premature menopause
• Possible menopausal symptoms
• Body image and sexuality
• Hormone treatments and their effects
• Breast reconstruction
• Work issues
• Childcare issues

Breast Cancer Care
Breast Cancer Care has, as part of their website, an area specifically aimed at younger women called the Lavender Trust. They explore issues such as family and friends, children, physical effects, emotional impact etc. They also have booklets on their website on 'breast cancer and the younger woman' that can be accessed through their 'publications' section that are free to download.

Contact details of Lavender Trust:

The Lavender Trust at Breast Cancer Care
5-13 Great Suffolk Street
London
SE1 0NS

Website: www.lavendertrust.org.uk
Telephone number: 0845 092 0800

Cancerbackup also have information for younger women (under Resources and Support of their website www.cancerbackup.org.uk ) which covers the following:

• Talking to children
• Talking about your cancer
• Coping with changes
• Talking to children of different ages and stages
• Children's feelings

They have information on emotional effects, sexuality and names of counselling organisations. It is also available in audio cassette format. They also have information which may be useful such as eating well, practical issues, symptoms and side effects etc.