Pictured: Nurse Clinician Mark Akoo (centre, right) meets members of the Ribble Valley Breast Friends at Grindleton Pavilion
A local support group for women affected by breast cancer this week welcomed a special guest to discuss breast cancer and the menopause.
Ribble Valley Breast Friends, a weekly support group for anyone in the Ribble Valley who has been diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their life, invited Mary Akoo, Nurse Clinician in gynaecology at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, to speak about menopause issues.
“We were delighted to welcome Mary to Ribble Valley Breast Friends and it was fascinating to talk with her about the menopause and breast cancer, a subject of great importance for many women,” says Ribble Valley Breast Friends organiser, Alison Waller.
Around 70 per cent of women will have menopausal symptoms during and after treatment for breast cancer. Some treatments can cause an earlier menopause and/or significant menopausal symptoms. *
“Our group allows local women to get the advice, support and friendship they need in a relaxed atmosphere.”
“We meet every Monday 1-3pm at the Grindleton Pavilion on Sawley Road, Grindleton. The group is entirely led by its members and the topics of conversation are determined by the members and they will be visited by various health care professionals on a rolling basis.”
If anyone in the Ribble Valley has had a breast cancer diagnosis at any point in their lives and would like support in any way, they can get in touch via Facebook (Ribble Valley Breast Friends), visit the www.ribblevalleybreastfriends.org.ukwebsite, email Alison@ribblevalleybreastfriends.org.uk or call her on 07890 685932.”