Landmarks to be lit up for breast cancer awareness

Madley Satellite Station was illuminated as part of last year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A charity is planning to light up 70 landmarks and venues across the UK as part of breast cancer awareness month.

The Shine a Light campaign, by the charity Make 2nds Count, will illuminate monuments and sites on 13 October, when it marks secondary breast cancer awareness day.

The charity, which ran a similar initiative last year, has chosen Madley satellite station, near Kingstone, among sites to be lit up in its colours of pink, purple and teal.

Charity head Sam Dixon said: "These illuminated landmarks represent a beacon of hope for the tens of thousands affected by secondary breast (metastatic) cancer."

Diane Ellingham said raising awareness of what secondary breast cancer is has helped her

This initiative is a part of the charity's 1,000 Truths campaign which aims to "ignite empathy and amplify voices" and share personal stories of patients, families and healthcare professionals.

Diane Ellingham, a patient from the Birmingham area, spoke about her experience with living with secondary breast cancer.

"My diagnosis of secondary breast cancer has been a journey of learning, not just for me but for my whole family," she said.

"You adapt, compromise, and find ways to live well even with a secondary diagnosis.

"But what people don't always see is what's underneath. We may look fine, but there are days filled with fear, anxiety and pain."

She added the Shine A Light initiative had helped her by raising awareness and helping people understand secondary breast cancer is "complex and different for everyone".

Secondary breast cancer occurs when the disease spreads to other parts of the body and is incurable but treatable. Symptoms can vary from person to person, the charity said.

"We need to share our stories, the good days and the bad, to create a better understanding of what living with this condition is truly like," Ms Ellingham said.

Make 2nds Count said an estimated 61,000 people in the UK are living with this condition, which claims 1,000 lives every month.

'How do I check for symptoms?'

The first noticeable symptom of breast cancer is often a lump or an area of thickened tissue. Most lumps are not cancerous, but it is always best to get a medical check.

What to look for:

• A lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast

• A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts

• A discharge of fluid from the nipple

• A lump or swelling in either of the armpits

• A change in the look or feel of the skin, like puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness

• A rash (like eczema), crusting, scaly or itchy skin or redness on or around the nipple

• A change in nipple appearance, such as becoming sunken into your breast

Source: NHS