Actress Emma Barton To Launch New Breasthealth UK Clinic
Chicago star keen to help Manchester’s women understand their risks
At 10:30am on 3 November 2009, actress Emma Barton – star of Chicago at the Palace Theatre – will officially launch BreastHealth UK’s new clinic at the Spire Manchester Hospital, Whalley Range, which offers new types of screening to women of all ages.
“I recently lost a friend who’d suffered twice with breast cancer,” says Emma. “When you lose someone like that, it really makes you aware of the importance of looking after yourself and being alert to any changes in your body.”
Emma is starring as Roxie in the hit musical Chicago at the Palace Theatre until 7 November. She will officially launch the new BreastHealth UK clinic at the Spire Manchester Hospital in Whalley Range on 3 November. The new clinic will provide women across Greater Manchester with more access to experienced consultants and convenient, well-equipped and expertly-staffed facilities for breast care.
Although breast cancer risk is strongly related to age, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 35, and most new cases arise in women with no significant prior family history of the disease. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chances of survival and the less the personal trauma.
Emma is painfully aware that breast cancer can strike at any age. “I also lost a college friend a few years ago, who was only 27,” she says. “It was so unexpected.”
Emma, who is in her early 30s, is keen that younger women are aware of how to check their own breasts and of the screening technology that is now available.
Mr Gerard Byrne, consultant breast surgeon at the BreastHealth UK Manchester clinic based at Spire Manchester Hospital said,
“There is much that a woman can do to reduce her personal risk of breast cancer, and this can be reassuring for someone who has lost someone close. A risk assessment takes into account lifestyle factors and can empower women to take a more preventative approach. It is important that we can work together with women and focus on the positives.
“Mammography is used as part of the routine screening programme for women between 50 and 70, but it is generally less effective for younger women who have denser breast tissue. BHUK offers us other approaches which can be beneficial for these women, enabling us to offer an enhanced service. Women can access our clinics without a GP referral.”
One in nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer and every year more than 44,000 new cases are diagnosed. The Breast Health Risk Assessment test, which uses the latest genetic understanding coupled with lifestyle, medical and family history factors, can help gauge a young woman’s personal risk, enabling an individual breast screening programme, with appropriate counselling, to be tailored for her.
The new BreastHealth UK clinic will offer access to a personalised breast screening programme that may include mammography, clinical breast examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other screening technologies, depending on a woman’s personal level of risk and other circumstances.
“It’s great that women will have access to these services, whatever their age,” said Emma.
Emma stars as Roxie Hart in Chicago alongside Gary Wilmot at the Palace Theatre, Manchester until 7 November.
For more information, visit www.breasthealthuk.com