A BREAST cancer campaign took a stand against an underknown and aggressive form of the disease.
The inflammatory breast cancer campaign took to Salisbury's Silver Street and painted it orange to raise awareness of inflammatory breast cancer, IBC.
Shops in the city donned the colour orange, rather than the more famous pink, because one of the signs of IBC is skin “looking like an orange peel,” according to Cancer Research UK.
“Knowledge is power and if you know, you know,” said Rachel Egginton.
Rachel, 51, brought the campaign to the Journal’s attention and has helped to spread awareness with Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network UK after her friend Sue Ware, 58, was diagnosed.
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“Talking is what will hopefully let this campaign flourish, gain momentum and grow!” said the campaigner.
“Sue and I go back 20 years, to Great Ormond Street, where we worked in the play department."
Mother, wife and former head of play services at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Sue is living with inflammatory breast cancer, which was detected at stage 3B and is now incurable.
“Sue is at the heart of this campaign and myself, Jools and Corrine have as supported her by all playing to our different strengths"
“I’m just blessed with knowing beautiful, strong and gorgeous friends who were happy to spread much-needed awareness to this type of breast cancer,” asserted Rachel.
One of Rachel’s friends was jewellery shop owner Rachel Tribbeck, 51, who decorated her shop, HR Tribbeck and Son, orange for the campaign.
Mrs Tribbeck said: “We are trying to get behind the IBC charity to raise awareness for this particular type of breast cancer to try and just save some lives; so that people know the symptoms and know what to look out for.”
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As part of the campaign Tribbecks is giving ten per cent of the proceeds on the sale of halo necklaces designed by Lulu & Boo, a Salisbury-based sustainable jewellery company.
Lulu & Boo owner Corrine Whillock, 50, spoke to the Journal about the timeless nature of her jewellery, which is made with recycled gold and silver.
“The pieces are solid silver and solid gold, which means they will stand the test of time,” said the jeweller, who braved bright orange trousers.
Corrine became involved with the inflammatory breast cancer awareness after one brunch with Rachel Egginton and hearing about Sue.
She said: “I used to be a midwife at Salisbury District Hospital, so I’m quite passionate women’s health and health in general.
“I just thought, ‘this is really terrible, that there’s such a lack of awareness about this condition and, what can I do to help?’”
As well as Rachel and Corrine, Jools Grogan, 47, helped to organise the awareness campaign, as well as the events which took place on Friday.
Along Silver Street, there were other shops also taking part in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day, including Smith England and Luxury Bubble.
In hairdressers Smith England, owner Louise Smith, 48, and her staff all wore orange and decorated their shop.
Louise said: “All the girls here really got involved, it’s such as sad story, but anything we can do to help.”
The final stop was Luxury Bubble, owned by Sian Currie, 54, who spoke passionately about the campaign.
Sian said: “If only one woman checks herself and finds something, then it’s enough, right?
“As women, we’re all affected by breast cancer. You’ve either had it, know someone who’s had it, or have a family member who’s had it."
The businesswoman noted the problem posed by how aggressive and sudden IBC is, saying, “It becomes even more important that women are checking themselves for very specific symptoms of something that can make your life go so horribly wrong so very, very quickly.”
According to Breast Cancer Research UK, IBC is a rare type of breast cancer which tends develop quicker than other more common types of breast cancer.
Less than five out of 100 breast cancers (less than 5%) diagnosed are inflammatory breast cancers.
Charity Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network UK wants to educate the public, as well as health professionals, about the underknown disease and promote research.
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