Breast Cancer Awareness Month: know your normal
National Grid
Connecting millions of people to the energy they use, while making the energy system clean, fair, and affordable.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while the majority of diagnoses of this type of cancer are more common in women over 50 – with an average 82% of breast cancers diagnosed in women aged 50 or older and 18% in those under 50* – our team manager Claire is campaigning for everyone to ‘know their normal’.
Claire was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32 and was initially told that it was curable. However, suspicious spots subsequently found on her lungs moved her into a stage four with secondary tumours diagnosis.
At that time, Claire took to social media where she found a community of people who had been diagnosed with breast cancer before the screening programme kicks in at the age of 50. Many had been diagnosed with secondary tumours and were still alive decades after being told to prepare to die.
“I’ve had a great support network,” says Claire. “My husband, son and colleagues – as well as long-term survivors with my particular subgroup – have given me incredible love and support and adjusted to my ‘chemo brain’.”
Claire has now finished her chemotherapy and has been told that there is no active cancer left in her body, but that’s not stopping her from campaigning.
These are Claire’s three key messages:
1. Breast cancer can affect people of all ages
We often tend to relate cancer with older people, but it can also affect those under the age of 50 – particularly women who’ve had children.
Because the NHS screening programme for breast cancer doesn’t start until you’re 50, there’s a greater risk of you being diagnosed at a later stage, after it’s potentially spread.
2. The mindset around secondary cancer needs to change
Due to the greater risk of later-stage diagnoses, there seems to be a medical mindset of ‘you’re going to die’. That needs to change! Many of those diagnosed with secondary tumours are still alive decades after being told to prepare to die.
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The communication and support medical professionals offer needs to be improved too. At the moment the information offered is the same whether you’re 30 or 60, but at these ages, we – and our families – are at completely different stages of our lives.
3. Check yourself regularly to get to know your ‘normal’
Whatever your age or gender, learn how to check your breasts and do so regularly so you‘re more likely to notice if something doesn’t feel quite right. If it does, seek help as soon as you can. Cancer doesn’t discriminate!
Supporting our colleagues
At National Grid, we're committed to fostering a culture where we all Thrive Together. We strive to create an environment where open conversations about health – whether physical or mental – are encouraged, ensuring that our colleagues feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work.
In addition to promoting open conversation, we've developed various internal health pathways to provide support for any of our colleagues facing health challenges. Whether someone is adapting to a new diagnosis or navigating a stressful period, we're here to help.
Breast Cancer: facts and figures*