Worcester Breast Unit Appeal – Making a Centre of Excellence

In Worcestershire over 500 breast cancers are diagnosed yearly. Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women and is increasing in frequency. Men also develop breast cancer but it is less common (1% of all breast cancers). Thankfully survival for breast cancer is improving as surgery and treatments develop.

For every one person seen with cancer we will see 11 who don’t. Almost all referred to a breast unit worry that they have cancer. That uncertainty of not knowing can be extremely stressful. This is heightened by having to wait for an appointment to be seen, long waits at the clinic, not having all the investigations at that visit and not having an answer immediately.

Currently, within Worcestershire Royal Hospital, there is no area specifically for Breast patients.  It is the aim of the Worcester Breast Unit Appeal to build a dedicated unit to ensure rapid access, assessment and treatment for breast problems. It would house all relevant staff on one site, improving efficiency and the patients’ experience. By bringing in state of the art equipment, diagnosis will be made rapidly and treatment speeded up. It would also allow for Patient Support Groups meetings, whilst providing educational material for patients and relatives and support local research and training.

The Worcester Breast Unit Appeal is aiming to raise over 1 million over four years to ensure the best care for the local community.

Behind the Appeal

Steven Thrush was appointed as a Breast Specialist at Worcester three years ago. Having trained in London as a General Surgeon, he specialised in breast surgery and undertook attachments at many of the leading breast centres in the UK, including Edinburgh, Kings, Guildford and Guys’ and St. Thomas’.

Steven witnessed the massive potential there is for developing a service in Worcester Royal Hospital and aims to make Worcester recognised nationally as a centre of excellence for breast care.

He has introduced breast reconstruction, sentinel node biopsy for assessing cancer spread and techniques to reduce mastectomy rates and improve the aesthetic outcome of surgery. And is part of the Faculty for Breast Training at the Royal College of Surgeons, as well as recently being short listed for Worcestershire Doctor of the Year.

Donate

If you would like to donate a raffle/auction prizes or a cash donation to this worthy appeal please contact Kathy Leather, Warriors Commercial Director on 01905 459326 or email: kathy@wrfc.co.uk and she would love to hear from you.