Fighting to make 1 in 10 none in 10

10th October 2012

 

Breast cancer is the biggest cause of death for women between 35 and 55 years of age. Although breast cancer deaths are falling, the incidence of the disease in the West is increasing. In the UK 48,000 women will develop breast cancer each year and in Europe 1 in 10 women will develop breast cancer at some time during their life. The aim of Genesis is to turn things around until we see the rate fall to 1 in 11, then 1 in 12 and so on. Our ultimate goal is to stop the disease and make breast cancer preventable for everyone.

Genesis is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to breast cancer prevention, currently only 2% of UK cancer research funds are spent on prevention. Our specific aims are to predict which women are most susceptible to breast cancer, to prevent the disease through better and earlier detection methods, to research and develop preventative procedures for the disease and to increase the uptake of breast screening in minority ethnic groups. 

Breast cancer is caused by the combination of a person’s genetic make-up with several environmental and lifestyle triggers. Our research therefore looks at all relevant areas such as predisposing genes, diet, lifestyle, environment, better methods of early detection and screening, the causes and treatment of pre-cancer changes.

We have had some fantastic achievements so far, including raising £2 million towards the building of The Nightingale Centre & Genesis Prevention Centre in Manchester. This is Europe’s first breast cancer prevention centre and where I am now based, working as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. My special interest is microsurgical breast reconstruction. 

Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention can be described as a local charity for Greater Manchester, a regional charity for the North West, a national charity for the UK and an international charity – due to the wide area of patients visiting the centre, the wide area of breast cancer specialists/medical centres who benefit from Genesis funded research and the media attention given to our top professors.

Victoria Rose
Full Member of BAPRAS
 

 

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