BREAST Cancer Awareness month has now drawn to a close and Hereford Haven has had a busy October fundraising and raising its profile.

The centre in St Owen Street in Hereford provides free support to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and continues to support them following treatment.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a worldwide annual campaign, highlights the importance of breast awareness, education and research.

Thanks to research, more people are surviving breast cancer than ever before.

More than 80 per cent of women with breast cancer are still alive five years after diagnosis but around 50,000 women are still diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

Specialist nurses and experts in nutrition, exercise and emotional support provide tailor-made programmes for each visitor to the Hereford Haven.

Hereford fundraising manager, Frankie Devereux, thanked everybody for their support.

The Hereford High Town collection at the started of the month raised £600 while the Birmingham Half Marathon team raised £10,000.

Catherine Button from Bodenham ran it for Haven in memory of her mother who died of breast cancer.

The Bell at Skenfrith sale was popular and although a final figure is yet to be confirmed, it is hoped it will top £3,000.

Abbotsfield Funeral Directors held a coffee morning and Haines Watts had a pink shirt day.

Pencombe Young Farmers Club donated £2,100 from a charity lunch at New Ramsden, Little Cowarne.

While Freemasons in Herefordshire donated a further £1,437. The donation came from two specific lodges of the six that meet in Hereford and of the 15 that meet county-wide- Dean Leigh Masters’ Lodge and Dean Waterfield Lodge.

And Janet Poole, 49, from Hereford, explained how the Haven has helped her in her time of need.

Five of Janet’s aunts have had breast cancer so when she was diagnosed a few months after her sister; it sent shockwaves through her whole family.

Janet said: "Telling my family was the hardest part. I knew I was upsetting everyone all over again. “My sister, Jean was just coming to the end of her chemotherapy and I was about to plunge everyone back into it."

She then had to tell the news to her 15-year-old daughter.

Janet said: "We drove home from school and she guessed something was wrong. I told her when we arrived home over a hot chocolate and we just sobbed together for about an hour. Then we resolved to get through it together – of course we had wobbles but we tried to be strong for each other."

Janet knew what to expect from treatment but the chemotherapy was tough and it really took its toll mentally and physically.

Janet said: "Having poison injected into me affected everything - my sleep, eating, drinking and emotionally I became a bit Jekyll and Hyde. Some days I didn’t want to leave the house, others I felt OK and would stride out in the town without my wig almost defiantly. I wanted people to see what this disease was doing to me and show the world that I was strong and fighting it."

Janet’s sister, Jean had been to Breast Cancer Haven in Hereford so suggested that she go along too.

She said: “It is such a lovely feeling just being there. It’s calm and serene and everyone is friendly and makes you feel so special. I had an aromatherapy massage which was so relaxing and calming and helped with my aches and pains.

"The counsellor helped me in lots of ways, not just in coping with the fear and anxiety but also with moving on with my life and what the future holds."

She is now determined to raise awareness and encourage people to get checked for breast cancer.

Janet requested a mammogram due to her family history.

Do you know what to look for when checking for breast cancer? The following advice comes from Dr Caroline Hoffman, clinical and research director for the Haven:

The best thing to do is get to know the normal look and feel of your own breasts, this is the starting point. From there you will be able to see if anything has changed that is out of the ordinary.

These are things to look out for that you should get checked out with your GP if they occur. Remember that diagnosing and treating breast cancer early gives the best results so don’t hesitate to get help if you are not sure.

1. A change in shape or size of the breast – larger or lower

2. A lump or thickening which may be felt but may not be visible to the naked eye.

3. Unusual pain in the breast or armpit that does not go away

4. Swelling in your armpit or near your collarbone

5. Skin texture changes that can include puckering or dimpling

6. A change in colour of the breast, this might be a rash, redness or inflammation

7. A liquid nipple discharge that comes from one or both breasts without squeezing

8. Changes to the nipple - either pulled in or changes to its shape or position

9. A rash or crusting around the nipple area

10. Remember to check all parts of your breasts, chest wall up to your collarbone and your armpits

For more information go to www.thehaven.org.uk/hereford

Holmer park are offering a spa package and donating 5% of sales to The Haven and it was suggested to Steven ,the manager at Holmer park to contact us and let us know.