December 2009
Actress and singer Samantha Barks – star of Aladdin at the Theatre Royal, Windsor – officially launched BreastHealth UK’s new clinic at the Spire Thames Valley Hospital in Wexham. The new clinic offers new types of screening to women of all ages.
Sam will perform in the title role in Aladdin at the Theatre Royal Windsor from 9 December to 10 January. She officially launched the new BreastHealth UK clinic at the Spire Thames Valley Hospital on 27 November 2009 and said “A lot of women – younger women especially don’t realise how simple and important it is to self-check, and to have regular screening. I’m delighted to open this new clinic and to be involved in raising awareness, to encourage women of all ages to take better care of their breast health.” The new clinic will ensure that women throughout the region have fast-track access to experienced consultants and convenient, well-equipped and expertly-staffed facilities for breast care.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 35, and most new cases arise in women with no prior family history of the disease. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chances of survival and the less the personal trauma. As well as offering advanced screening technologies, the BHUK clinic will also have specialist nurses who can perform clinical breast examination and teach women how to check themselves properly.
Mr Stephen Knight, consultant breast surgeon at the BreastHealth UK Thames Valley clinic, said, “One in nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer and every year more than 44,000 new cases are diagnosed. We will be offering the Breast Health Risk Assessment test, which uses the latest genetic understanding coupled with lifestyle, medical and family history factors, can help us to gauge a young woman’s personal risk, enabling us to tailor an individual breast screening programme, with appropriate counselling, just for her.
“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 other approaches which are beneficial for these women, enabling us to offer an enhanced service. Women can access our clinic quickly, and without a GP referral.”
The Thames Valley clinic will be one of the first to offer Digital Infrared Breastscan, which is a sophisticated non-contact screening technique that identifies ‘hot spots’ in breast tissue. It is particularly suitable for younger women.
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.
Samantha Barks leads the cast of Aladdin at the Theatre Royal Windsor from 9 December to 10 January. For information visit www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
For more information about BreastHealth UK, visit the BreastHealth UK website.