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Launch event for 'LB women & breast cancer' briefing
Breast Cancer Care is launching their briefing ‘Lesbian and bisexual women and breast cancer’ at a breakfast event on 23rd March. We would like to invite you to attend the launch, which begins at 9am and will finish by 10am.
We are also looking for a lesbian or bisexual woman who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer to share their experiences at the launch. Some of the themes that came up in the research were: homophobia or discrimination by healthcare professionals, the perception/reality of heterosexuality in breast cancer services, the lack of knowledge around the slightly elevated risk of breast cancer for lesbian and bisexual women, the lack of access to specialist information and the experience of same-sex partners. If you have anything to say about any of these issues, or anything else, please contact
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If you do not want to be a speaker but are still interested in attending the event, please RSVP to Kiran. There will be croissants, pastries and coffee and Dr. Julie Fish (author of ‘Coming Out Against Breast Cancer,’ De Montford University) and Jane Hatfield (Director of Policy at Breast Cancer Care) will be giving short presentations.
Please RSVP by 16th March. Many thanks.
That's excellent, well done BCC.
You haven't said where the launch event is being held, so perhaps you could add that detail?
Hi Chocciemuffin
I would think the event is being held in London at the BCC main offices but I will double check this for you
Best wishes
Lucy
The launch is being held at the Breast Cancer Care offices: 5-13 Great Suffolk Street, London. SE1 0NS.
Indigo Pearl
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...ridiculous time for a meeting whether you live in London (public transport is always delayed) and, if you live outside London, ??spend a night in a hotel. Pl think again and I am neither L or bi.
Barbara
Hi all,
Please don't shoot me - I put sexual orientation into the same sort of category as race, colour, creed .... basically none of my business - live & let live, that's me.
However, when I first joined this forum and saw posts for this thread, a solitary thought crossed my little grey cells as I wondered why a separate thread was actually needed/wanted. I could see why a bloke thread but girls are girls, surely?!?
I will now eat my 'wonders' and say that I'm really sorry - I didn't have a scoobie that the gals had a slightly elevated risk of BC and will now try to educate myself as to why that should be. I should also have put my brain into gear & realised that prejudice still does exist.
Sorry again girls - even though you wouldn't have had the slightest inkling into the insight of my naievity until I just 'outed' my dimness!!
Best Wishes xx Chris xx
Hi - I've offered to go but with the previso that my particular experience is from a possibly priveliged position as my OH is an Onc in the centre where I was treated -so I got a lot of respect but still got two very direct doses of homophobia even still and some indirect..thanks for your comments Minimuchkins - it was a tricky time when this thread started so appreciate your comments.
Happy to express views of others if BCC take me up on my offer of going to the meeting. Also good to have your dvd maybe Norberte, then it gives at least two perspectives?
bw Nicola
Hi Nicola and Norberte,
A presentation that draws upon the experiences of a number of lesbian and bisexual women would be good. I would be happy to share my experience with you. I will be attending the launch.
Indigo Pearl
I've sent you a PM Indigo Pearl, Nicola
Hello to fellow lesbians and bisexual women on the threads. Just wanted to let you know I've agreed to talk for 5 mins at the BCC launch of their new research, policy and care recommendations document. I am there really just to give a patient voice to the proceedings. I'm putting together my thoughts about what I will say sometime next week so if you'd like to PM me with anything you'd like me to include either with acknowledgement to you or anonymously then please do.
Hope to see some of you there too if you can face a 9am start in London!
regards Nicola
Hi Nicola -- bravo for agreeing to do this for us! Wish I could be there too, but London just too far from "up North" where I live -- will be thinking of you on the day, and waiting to see BCC's publicity about the launch.
Marilyn x
Thanks Marilyn, I'll post about how i think its gone afterwards. I think the leaflet is positive and helpful so thats good, it gives me stuff to be positive about too, as well as being realistic about how poor some of our treatment is...I've decided to use the phrase "serious interuption to trust building" for the bit where someone does something like call your partner your friend, or goes a bit pink when you say your partner's name etc etc...think it helps people who provide care to understand that we all need to trust our medical team and if we think they are prejudiced against us it isn't easy to feel trusting or safe.
best wishes Nicola
Hi Nicola
I've been significantly luckier than some -- our local Breast Care Unit, hospice and my onc team (who have provided my BC care for almost 14 years) have all been completely welcoming and respectful to my partner, treating her as my next-of-kin even before we had our civil partnership ceremony five years ago. I do know that others haven't had such a good experience -- great that BCC is promoting good quality standards for all of us.
Marilyn x
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Thats great Norberte, looking forward to doing a virtual joint presentation with you! Nicola
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HI everyone - I've finished my talk - decided to put a few powerpoint slides together in case I get upset, my favourite being my lesbian family photo..we are all smiling so thats a first! I'm really happy to let you have a look at what I plan to say but not sure how to get it to you, so perhaps if anyone wants to PM me we can work it out. Indigo Pearl , if you are on the threads between now and then, I really hope to see you there, best Nicola
I'm looking forward to hearing your talk, Nicola, and seeing your DVD, Norberte, at the launch. See you on Wednesday,
Indigo Pearl
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Hi everyone
Just wanted to say it was lovely to meet some of you at the event this morning and thanks so much to norberte & moorcow for your presentations.
If you want to see the final policy briefing, it's on the website here: http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/media-centre/all-our-latest-news/newsblog/ and you can contact Kiran if you'd like a copy posted to you.
Leah
Hi everyone,
I just want to say that Moorcow's talk was great as was the talk Norberte gave via DVD. Both talks highlighted a number of very important issues regarding the experience of lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer, illustrated with examples from their own personal experience. Thank you both and congratulations for putting together informative, interesting, engaging, important and powerful presentations!
Indigo Pearl
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Hi everyone, it was so lovely to meet so many people yesterday - it was a good do and people were so welcoming and warm at the BCC offices. Norberte, your talk was great and had us chuckling; Indigo Pearl, so lovely to meet you, I felt a bit overwhelmed after the talk so sorry if I was a bit blank when we chatted. Kiran and Leah and Jane , thanks for all your hard work too.
Lets hope this will improve health care for lesbians with any illness. And by the way Norberte, daaaaaahrling, you did not look fat!!! Perhaps you may say a trick of the dvd, who knows, but we were gripped. I'm now off to swim cos it seems to keep my left arm moving better and hopefully some of my excess pouinds will drop to the bottom of the pool as I go....
warm wishes to you all, Nicola
Do we get to see the contents of this famous dvd with slimline amazonin Norberte? I'm interested in a summary of the presentations if that's possible.
hey look! - i posted here (instead of just lurking) and i claim my prize.
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all I can say is thank the godess they didn't video me - I go all drama queen when doing presentations so its best not recorded for posterity! Nice to "meet "you sky2sea, Nicola
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Haahaa N ! They did take a photo though so hopefully you can see my ridiculous "breast cancer shoes" - I went frivilous on the day after my diagnosis and bought shoes like I used to wear bfore I discovered the joys of DMs and other flats about 30 years ago-thought they ought to be there too! N
The mind boggles - do you mean shoes with heels instead of good solid dykey ones? I've got bc ear rings - dangly ones like i used to wear 30 years ago. The theory is that they will distract from my pale round head.
D x
YES I do indeed mean heels - great big shiny bright blue ones! SOme of my friends who veer towards being in the lesbian police coulnt get their heads around them, but most people got the sheer ridiculousness....my niece, 20, sid they were awesome and could she have them when I get bored so I was very chuffed with myself!
Like the sound of your earings -and by the way - your fabulous picture....my hair not far off resembling a highland bull's haris at front of its head at present! Best thing is people not sure if its a chemo hair cut or a dykey hair cut!!!
bw Nicola