About Our Charity
It is a sad and worrying fact that one in nine women will develop breast cancer at some time in their lives ~ early detection and treatment is vital.
Our charity aims to improve the early detection and treatment of breast cancer by funding high-tech equipment for this purpose.
In 2004 the Breast Cancer Unit at Maidstone Hospital was completed. The unit was funded by the Tunbridge and Maidstone Health Trust. It is run as a 'one stop shop', to provide patients with tests and results on the same day. Cutting down the delay between tests and results has greatly helped reduce some of the trauma usually involved. The equipment our charity has purchased is housed in this unit.
Some of the equipment our charity has funded or part-funded
| 1999/2000 | Prone Biopsy Scanner & Cost of Training for Radiography The scanner consists of a bed with two holes to accomodate the breasts - enabling them to be scanned and treated without being compressed. This makes it more comfortable and considerably less painful for the patient. Biopsies can also be performed using the scanner facilities: to see the affected area precisely; for guidance during the biopsy; and if any subsequent operation is required. |
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| When this scanner was bought it was one of only three in the country. | |
| 2001/2002 | Mammotone & camera chip The Mammotone can be attached to the Prone Biopsy Scanner for use in biopsies. |
| 2002/2003 | Photographic collection for patients considering breast reconstruction Our charity funded a collection of specialised photographs showing previous breast reconstructions so that breast cancer patients considering reconstruction after a mastectomy are able to see what is involved and the good results that can be achieved. The photograph collection has been of great help in reassuring patients of the good results that can be obtained with reconstruction. |
| 2003/2004 | Faxtron A hand held scanner used in the breat clinic. |
| 2004/2005 | Digital Mammography Machine This machine has proved a great success and our charity may fund another Digital Mammography Machine in the future. When the breast is scanned, the image immediately appears on a computer screen where the Head Radiographer and Specialist can check & assess the images. This enables patients to be advised of the results almost straight away. |
| 2005/2006 | Optison & Cansiters A type of dye used to help detect rogue cells in the lymph glands. Used as part of a study. |
| 2005/2006 | A study of the benefits of the Prone Biopsy Scanner was undertaken at the Breast Cancer Unit at Maidstone Hospital and the results will be published in a white paper soon. |
| 2006 | Training a team of specialists on the use of radioactive dye to locate the centinal
node The team were trained in a new procedure to locate the main (Centinal) node in the underarm lymph glands, using radioactive dye, so that fewer nodes need to be removed during lymph clearance surgery. Removal of the lymph node is normal procedure in most cases of breast cancer. Using the new procedure will mean that many fewer nodes are removed and this will mean less tissue removal which will directly benefit the patient. |
Future equipment our charity is considering funding
Centinal Probe
To locate the Centinal node indicated by the trace of radioactive dye.
Forensic equipment
To be used in the operating theatre to enable the pathologist to analyse tissue 'on the spot' during an
operation so that specialist surgeons know if the tumor is benign or cancerous immediately. This will speed
up the operation and the patient will not be anaesthetised for so long. At present the pathologist has to
go from the theatre to his laboratory to analyse the sample tissue and then return to the operating theatre
with the result.
Digital Mammography Machine
The first machine proved such a success and is in great demand, so it is possible that our charity will fund
another Digital Mammography Machine some time in the future.
Please give generously to our worthy cause
Thank You
Background
The Mid-Kent Breast Cancer Research Appeal was registered as a charity (Charity Registration No. 1054459) in 1995 by Mr Peter Jones, Consultant Surgeon at Maidstone Hospital, with the aim of providing essential high tech equipment and techniques to greatly benefit breast cancer sufferers.
Trustees: Mr P Jones, Dr S Gammanpila, Dr R Burcombe, Mrs S Jones.
Managing Trustees: Mrs C Nunn, Mrs S Sharp, Mrs K Hogan, Mrs S Gregory.
A committee of volunteers was formed in June 1996 and originally consisted of 12 people. At present our smaller, but very active committee, meets every six weeks. Every member of the committee has suffered from breast cancer, so they are very sensitive to the needs of patients and realise early detection and treatment is vital in the fight against breast cancer.
Voluntary helpers are always needed to organise and run events, man stalls and help on collection days.
See Please Help Us for details.
Please Note: Our charity is not involved in experiments on animals, nor does it support this practice.
