Week Four - After First Chemo - I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul but it sure helps having support from my mates!

Friendships:

When I think of the many friendships I have formed over the years I know that it is making a major impact on my health and well-being.  Never have I felt the support from so many people who have often been a transient part of my life either from a work place, a place I have lived, from friends I have known since school or friends that I have travelled and met on cycle challenges.  But one quote I came across struck a nerve. “True friends are like stars you don’t always see them but you know they are always there!”

I can honestly say that I know you are all there rooting for me and I thank you all for the love and support you have shown me over the past few weeks.  I know that it has added to my strength and lifted me every time I have been down. So thank you all.

What are the benefits of friendships?

Throughout my life I have been fortunate to have good mates around me, colleagues I have genuinely grown to have great friendships with that have lasted a lifetime and  who I have celebrated both the good times, the lonely times, the painful times and  tragic times with.  I know that I only have to pick the phone and there is always someone to talk to.

Friends can:

·         Improve your life and increase your self-worth

·         Give you a sense of being loved

·         Give you a sense of belonging

·         Help you cope with life’s curved balls

·         Give you the best laughter and increase your happiness

·         Listen when you need a shoulder and reduce stress

·         Pick up where you last left off without any question

When you go through being told you have a life threatening disease you go through the stages of grieving, in my case rather quickly and like everything else I do I did this within a couple of days:

1.      Denial and Isolation

The first reaction when learning of critical illness is to deny the reality of the situation. (I had already guessed my diagnosis because of Google so almost hit this emotion within minutes of being told; it came like a wave which I then processed the information and moved on..

2. Anger

I was angry that I had “bastard cancer” but again after a couple of days felt why waste energy on being angry so I have not had this emotion since as again I processed the fleeting moment of anger but then moved on..

Even when the doctor who I went to and sent me away rang me, I did not feel anger. Just felt sorry for her.

3. Bargaining

The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control–

• If only I had sought medical attention sooner…
• If only I got a second opinion from another doctor…
• If only I had tried to be a better person
• If only I had been healthier, slimmer, worked less hours, etc.

Secretly, I looked for divine intervention from my late mother and prayed that she would look after me and make sure I was going to be alright.  this was the hardest because I am a control freak so I want to know why and have completed endless research which is exhausting.

4. Depression

I refuse to acknowledge this one the same way I have done my whole life, I don’t want to be depressed therefore I don’t allow it to possess me.  I do have down days as you have seen but I really work hard to pull myself out of these moments with a stern chat with myself.  I have not always understood it in others but I know it exists and I have always tried to listen to others who do suffer from it knowing that it is an illness, a chemical in-balance and I try to reach out and be a friend to those who have it. It’s terrible and equally debilitating as any “bastard cancer! So I consider myself fortunate.

5. Acceptance

I have accepted my “bastard cancer” and what has made it easier is knowing the support I have off my sister, my family and friends, my work colleagues...

Coping with breast cancer is ultimately a massive personal experience — I am thankful that you have all been there for me to comfort me and support me.  It's extraordinary how protective I am of how I should feel.  People with the same illness with me, will have different emotions and have their special way of dealing with it.  Everyone is different, everyone has their own coping mechanisms but for me I have to fight, I have to work, I have to maintain my health, I have to deal with it, I have to laugh and mock at it, I have to maintain as much glamour as I can because that is ultimately who I am a shallow bugger but above all I have to beat it and move on..  

Finally tonight I was sent a poem by a friend and ex colleague which sums up the way I feel brilliantly so thank you Sean Coulter.

Invictus (Unconquered)

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley (As sent to me by Sean Coulter)

 

Week Four - After first Chemo - "One on One!"

I woke up this morning you will all be pleased to know with a positive mental attitude having had a strong word with myself late last night!

My neighbour Jan who I have spoken about previously had offered the use of her husband for the morning purely for cycling purposes you understand, so I thought why not it’s about time you got of your backside and resumed your fitness plan.  Poor John clearly had not understood this and no doubt would have preferred to chill out but fair play he agreed to it and off we went.

I have not ridden my bike since my diagnosis, AND  to be fair thought I had a pretty good excuse really, but, when push comes to shove there really is no reason why I can’t be active.  In fact most reports say active is good. It would just be an excuse to say "I have bastard cancer so I can't do anything and want to be a couch potato." 

We had a lovely eighteen mile ride stopping mid-way at an Italian Bistro on the River Trent for bruschetta and sparkling water with the sun beaming down on us, reminding me how great it is to feel alive when you are enjoying the sheer physicality of a good cycle ride.

Coming back was up hill!  I managed to ride all the way up on a steep couple of miles hill, remembering the solid advice of good friend Aly Stewart who was like St Teresa on Cycle China and kept us all going. “One and one ladies” she would shout encouraging those of us at the back, “one on one!”  Of course she was talking about one pedal at a time don’t look up. Bear in mind that two years ago ‘one on one’ would last for sometimes twenty five miles as we painfully cycled towards the Great Wall of China, so a couple of miles hill out of the eighteen today was a doddle. 

I pondered as I was cycling and thought as an analogy ‘one on one’ is a good way to approach the eighteen months of treatment I was stressing about yesterday.  One day at a time, ‘one on one’ until I reach the top of my own hill to climb.  Ally’s words and support with me every step of the way. (Thanks Ally J xx)

This afternoon when I got back I felt the best I have in days, the sort of knackered that comes from a great workout or cycle ride.  Good tired, and I know I will sleep tonight.  But like all my bike rides I have rosy cheeks, both sets, a healthy glow and a sore backside, wrists that ache and legs that have stiffened to the point of old biddy status!  20% of the weight is on the pedals and 30% is on the hands and 150% is on the saddle!

 

But tonight Matthew……

I FEEL GOOD DE DE DE DE DE DE DE DE.  I KNEW THAT I WOULD NOW

I FEEEEEL GOOD DE DE DE DE DE! I KNEW THAT I WOULD NOW

SO GOOD, SO GOOD

THAT I GOT YOU (LOT!)

BETTER DAY “ONE ON ONE” (Dedicated to my good pal Aly Stewart)

LOVE WENDY J X

Week Three - After first Chemo - Lump in Throat Day!

I have had a quiet day, a comtemplatory day.  A day which I am calling " My lump in throat day".   For those who know me, they know that this sort of emotional day is few and far between thankfully.  I tell you because this is my blog, this is my journey, and its important that I am honest. 

First of all I did not get much sleep, still wide awake at 4am, eventually nodding off at about 4.30am only to be awoke to the sound of someone hammering at my door.   I had ordered an electric toothbrush from Amazon as am becoming increasing paranoid about mouth hygiene because its one of the most common side effects of chemo a dry sore mouth. so I open the door to be given the parcel and rushed in to open it only to find 18 packs of dog food.  Now call me an idiot but this single action alone caused me to have my first little weep of the day.  I am not sleeping well so I put it down to this alone.

why? Lord knows but that is the day I am having.  My breast hurts today, and I have a pain in my shoulder and down my arm. I am knackered, I am overly sensitive and for a wee minute I feel a little sorry for myself.  It is only for a wee minute because there are people in far worse situations than me and I remind myself of that and hear my mother once again saying "get a grip Wendy!"

An hour later the amazon driver comes back and says "sorry I gave you the wrong parcel" and suddenly I feel in control again.  Stupid I know.

So then I get ready to face the world, put my full make-up on and get on with my day, which, consists of  a bit of shopping of course, a nice cup of soya decaf latte and a quick visit to the farm shop whoop whoop, life's simple pleasures hey!

So I returned home and sleep took the better of me for about 4 hours and I awoke to the sound and smell of rain and it felt wonderful when I stood in the garden for a couple of minutes drinking it in feeling it on my skin, cool and calming.  

I read some wonderful messages from my cycling buddies from china and the girls I was meant to be cycling with in Sri Lanka in September and was comforted by the huge support I have off everyone.  My sister Joanne is amazing support to me and my best friend and I don't know what I would do without her.  She will cycle for both of us with these amazing women who have themselves suffered and have driven forward in the face of adversity and will support her when she is there with them as only we know how hard for both the mind and the body these challenges are and the spirit of great friendship is forged with laughter and tears shed along the way.

I watched the re-run of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, one year ago this week and felt proud but the lump in my throat tightened as I could not help but think of how quickly life changes.  Then my other best friend T turned up and the world was alright again. The love of Jo and T and of Jen are so precious to me it brings another lump to my throat.  I am lucky to have so many positive people with positive energy around me.

I have had a melancholy kind of day but I promised to be honest and share the more challenging days with you as well. 

If I could opt to have all my chemo sessions in one go I would, its the waiting around the sheer timescale it takes to get rid of "my bastard cancer" that mostly eats away at me.  I can cope with he cancer it's the timescale.  I am a girl that makes snap decision's and moves on quickly and this is something I have had to slow myself down with and be patient.

So I leave you tonight with a quote from William Wordsworth which I think sums up my situation and all of yours too.


Life is divided into three terms
that which was, which is, and which will be.
Let us learn from the past to profit by the present,
And from the present, to live better in the future.
William Wordsworth
Love Wendy x

Week three - After First Chemo- Beating the energy slump without Sugar!

I have completed a 4 day full on, manic (but that's normal!) week at work and I am trying to sum up how I feel!

For the most part good because it gave me something else to focus on and a week at where I work is full on to say the least.

I do feel exhausted tonight but so would anyone returning to work after a couple of weeks off in this heat but I can't avoid the fact that I am getting a massive energy slump at approximately 3pm every day which today got the better of me.  (I did not quite fall asleep at my desk but could feel every ounce of energy drain straight into my legs which became heavier and heavier as the afternoon wore on.

I have got home, had a quick shower and do feel 100% better but started looking at ways to boost energy for those of us in a desk job or doing a lot of driving.

Desk stretches !!!! all together now...

• Link your hands, push your arms out in front of you and then raise them above your head.
• Lift your shoulders up towards your ears and gently roll them backwards.
• Extend your legs in front of you and point and flex your toes.
• Hug your knees, one at a time, towards your chest.

Now here's the thing, I am probably going to be ok with the first three, but hugging my knees not a chance as have not seen them for years!

So there is much debate with regards to exercise and if it is good for cancer patients and the overall evidence suggests that a light resistance and aerobic work out is good to maintain well-being (see below article)  so I cannot pull the big C excuse!!   In reality I don't want to because as you are all aware by now my 'Bastard Cancer' is going to be knocked out first round!  I always did love a bit of boxing!

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2012-rst/7202.html
 It has been known for some time that exercise is important for cancer patients, but few studies have looked at the practicality of exercise programs and whether even a minimal workout can help. Exercise can reduce cancer-related fatigue, improve sleep, boost a sense of wellness, and reduce the recurrence of certain types of tumour's. A Mayo Clinic study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that a brief, at-home exercise program — dubbed the Rapid, Easy, Strength Training program, or REST, — was sufficient to increase cancer patients' mobility and reduce fatigue.

As I said in my last blog breaking the habit of being Wendy is a much bigger fight than any 'bastard cancer' but my cousin D posted this poster to me today.  D like me is direct, honest and has the same family issues of allowing food to control us but has so much drive and energy that she just has amazing stamina to just push past it.  Out of the list below I suffer from 4 of them.  Just when do you think I will learn my lesson?

Note to Self and in my mother's words:  Get a f**king grip Wendy and improve your health!

Love Wendy x

After first Chemo – Week three – Breaking The Habit Of Being Wendy!

When something life changing happens to you it creates process in your brain that forces you to look at yourself from outside.

You consider your life from every aspect.  One of my favourite sayings is “If you always do what you always do, you will only ever get what you only ever get.”

So every day my life is spent predominantly doing the same things.  I get up at 6am, I am on the road of 7am, I drive a two hour commute to one of our offices, during that commute I stop at a coffee shop and usually eat my first sugary crap of the day, I perform my daily tasks, I see the same people, I often have the same conversations in order to produce the same sort of business week in week out.  I don’t look after myself, I eat the wrong things, I don’t drink enough water, and I have the same two hour commute back home.  I shower when I get in, I eat late, I answer emails and I go to bed too late only to repeat the process the day after all over again.  

This is my life, at weekends I try to ride my bike, I shop, I carry on eating crap things, I am defined by the routine that controls being Wendy.

So when something potentially life threatening taps at your door it awakens a fear in you that relies on a change process.  Positivity is something I possess in abundance, I work to the philosophy of “I will not let the bastards grind me down”, I am blessed that I have never felt depression even in the face of adversity and I manage stress very well.  I can handle any change in a work or personal environment that is thrown at me.

However,

WHY CAN’T I CHANGE MY OWN HABITS OF A LIFETIME AND CHANGE THE HABIT OF BEING WENDY?

What do I mean, I want to lose weight, I want to eat better, I want to exercise more and in the immortal words of Mr Freddie Mercury “I WANT TO BREAK FREE!!!!

So here is my promise to myself:

1.Eat Breakfast – I will not leave the house until I have a healthy organic breakfast that sets me up for the day.

2.Make Grocery Shopping List – I am going to prioritise my healthier shopping list to include: Fish, organic veg & fruit, nuts and grains and cut back on dairy and processed foods

3.  Prepare packed lunch and snacks in advance to avoid the energy dips that subsequently lead to buying sugary crap designed to give really short term unsustainable energy

4.  Avoid late night eating:  (unless its celery!)

5. Exercise more

6. Get enough sleep

7. Avoid stressful situations that I can’t change and concentrate my efforts on the things I can

8.  Kick the ass out of my ‘BASTARD CANCER’

It’s a wish list and like most of you I will sometimes do well with it and sometimes fail and fall off the edge with points 1 to 7. 

What I can guarantee to you all though, Is that I will succeed on point 8 because it will not define me and I have the power and the ability to rid my- self of this short term infliction that has invaded by body.

 

	Love Wendy x :)

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Week 3- Post First Chemo - I am Cinderella and I shall go to the ball!

well it had to happen!

My inability with tech has finally caught up with me.  Laptop crashed then could not remember password of google account which has meant I could not access the blogging admin.  Result is I have spent the last two hours trying to recover it.  However, here I am at last (and I can't even blame being blond anymore!)

So today has been fairly low key in that I waved goodbye to Jenny and Jo and had the rest of the day to contemplate what was next.

About 9pm tonight I got a phone call from someone I use to work with and became close to about 20 years ago.  She had somehow got hold of my blog and had spent the week trying to track me down.  She explained to me that she developed cancer of the colon about 9 years ago, stage 4 and had secondaries in her liver.  She had 32 rounds of chemo, over a three year period had various operations and at her diagnosis was told she only had 6 months to live.  she just wanted to let me know I can beat it, and the most important thing is to look at it as an opportunity to make some life changes.  I was so inspired by her story and her fight.  She also explained the benefit of eating organically something she did from day one of her diagnosis.  "Don't look back" she said "Just look forward"  Crack open a bottle of organic wine which she told me you could buy and also eat red grapes during your next chemo session.  Cheers Mrs S - bloody brilliant to hear from you x

I feel so lucky to have so many people come forward and tell me their stories of courage and of winning in the face of adversity.

I am reminded that if Cinderella had gone back and picked up her own shoe she never would have been a princess!  I have always wanted to be a princess.  Some might say I have always been a princess, on account I like to get my own way!  This is one time I am definitely going to get my way and I will make no bones about it.  My prince charming is my future, My ugly sisters are my "bastard cancer" and we all know how that story ends!  I shall be at the ball dancing my feet off, living life to the max!

I am returning to work in the morning, seeing colleagues and bosses for the first time since I announced my diagnosis.  I am not a victim, I hope they will respect that, if they don't they soon will.  I can't wait to see everyone and just get stuck in to the week ahead.  Never thought I would say this but I have really missed the normality and interactivity of work.

Let you know how it goes.

Love Wendy x

Week Two - After Chemo: Enjoying the weekend

I did not get to blog last night because I have Jenny and Joanne staying with me for the weekend and we decided to opt for a night on the town!  Well actually it was more of a night at the local Mexican restaurant with my  friend T as well but we all enjoyed it.  We then carried on partying in the garden catching up on old times and having a giggle.  The three most important people in my life what more could a girl want.

If being with people you love was a medicine then I can tell you that this would be the best healer of all.  You can’t pay for it as it’s priceless.

There were times that each of us became emotional, each of howled with laughter and each of us made a prat of ourselves, but would not have missed it for the world.

Today we went to Southwell a small town in Nottinghamshire with the most beautiful Minster which we visited and then had a little shop, lunch then came home and had a BBQ with my other special friend Janet the best neighbour anyone could hope for.  I am lucky.

For most of you, it's probably the same sort of weekend you are all having with loved ones, family and friends.  For me it is now the most precious thing I own  as I am still at the stage that no matter how much I am strong and fight my ‘bastard cancer’ it occupies my brain far more frequently than I would like, it pops into my brain intermittently but is always there.  I cannot help but let the thought of it creep into my mind until I stamp it out and enjoy my present.

On the way home I went to Sainsbury’s and whilst walking around I saw this really frail little old lady.  She was at the dairy section trying to look at the sell by dates that the produce had.  She turned to me and said “I am so sorry to keep you waiting I just want to get the longest dates as I struggle to shop for myself because I have cancer and can’t get out much.”  I told her I was so sorry but I knew what she meant as I had also recently been diagnosed.   She looked at me and said “you are far too young but you need to be strong, you need to be positive, I had it 8 years ago and beat it and I will beat it again and I am 77.”  

Sometimes in life you meet people that inspire you and in that small moment she inspired me.  

So tonight I leave you with an inspirational quote I found a couple of days ago.

Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

I am going to control this. Own it and spit it out for breakfast!  I am reacting well I think!

 

Love Wendy x :)

Week Two - Post Chemo - Critical Illness Cover? I'll not need that but pass the pork scratchings please!

 

Today I am going to write about what happens if?

So we have all been ripped off for PPI or insurance for if you lose your job, insurance for critical illness, life cover etc.

Well folks this was me:

Job loss cover:

I don’t need job loss cover because even if that did happen I know I am the sort of person to get a job immediately and just move on.  I won’t sign on ever, which is what you have to do to claim it.  Not for any other reason other than I believe I will always be employable so it’s a waste of money.

Critical Illness Cover:

I would have liked to take this seriously as at the diagnosis stage this means you are secure in that your mortgage is either paid monthly or in some cover the mortgage is paid off outright.  Unfortunately I did not take this and the consequences are if I cannot work due to illness I am in trouble.  I tell you this because if you don’t have it, then it is the one insurance that I think is worth the money.  So why did an intelligent woman and I like to think I am fairly bright not take critical illness cover?  Well for every stone you are overweight there is a high premium to pay and in my case this would have meant the cover for me would have been about £500 per month.   Lesson learned I should have paid it.  If you can afford it do it as the last thing you need is the worry of financial problems on top of the bastard cancer!

However in every cloud there is a silver lining.  I have had this week an offer on my property abroad which I have been trying to sell for four years.  This will mean if I cannot work I am secure which takes the pressure off immensely.  I have had many happy holidays but it’s time to move on and secure my future in the UK.

So the rest of the day was spent finding documents like divorce papers and deeds etc and was quite stressful, so much so that I forgot to eat and drink something when you are on chemo it’s really important not to do.  On top of that I had to jump in my car, hot foot it over to a solicitor to organise Power of Attorney and manage a business remotely.  So by the time I had completed this stressful day it was 4.30 and I was feeling dreadful, hot, dehydrated and generally gasping.

Imagine the picture; I was driving home, feeling melancholy, bit low, end of an era, when I see a farm shop in the distance in the middle of nowhere.  I pull in and felt it was like a mirage in the desert.  I was surrounded by plump organic produce of every description.  Fresh strawberries, crisp lettuce, earthy new potatoes, fresh organic eggs and meat, home- made meringues bursting out of old fashioned brown paper parcels, scotch eggs, creamy rich stilton etc.  So what do I do?  I spot a packet of ‘organic pork scratchings’ and a bottle of ‘organic dandelion and burdock pop’ and convince myself that it is acceptable to nail them in five minutes flat because (a) I needed to drink and eat and (b) I needed to replenish salt from sweating like a p.i.g all day!  Now I really didn’t know you could get organic pork scratching but let me tell you that I ate so much of them that I am in danger of turning into Miss Piggy tonight!    Delicious, plump, salty, no sign of any hairs, juicy and breathtakingly mouth watering.  As for the D&B it was every bit as fantastic as I remember drinking it as a child.  End result:  Aghhhhhh that’s better Oink Oink!   

I have Jo and Jenny arriving tonight: sister and step daughter so I know it’s going to be a fab weekend, a girlie weekend of laughs, love, reminiscing and of course shopping!

 

I am going to end on an educational note.

Keep learning, keep checking, keep smiling – Knowledge is Power!

love Wendy x :)

 Breast cancer Key Facts

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/keyfacts/breast-cancer/cancerstats-key-facts-on-breast-cancer

 How common is breast cancer?

·         Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK.

·         The lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in 8 for women in the UK.

·         In the UK in 2010 more than 49,500 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, that’s around 136 women a day.

·         Around 400 men in the UK were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010.

·         Female breast cancer incidence rates in Great Britain have increased by almost 70% since the mid-1970s.

·         In the last ten years, female breast cancer incidence rates in the UK have increased by 6%.

·         Around 8 in 10 breast cancers are diagnosed in women aged 50 and over.

·         In the UK in financial year 2009/10 the NHS breast screening programmes detected around 16,500 cases of breast cancer.

·         In the European Union (EU-27) more than 332,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in 2008.

·         Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 1.38 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.

 

How many people survive breast cancer?

·         Breast cancer survival rates have been improving for forty years. More women are surviving breast cancer than ever before.

·         In the 1970s around 5 out of 10 women with breast cancer survived the disease beyond five years. Now it's more than 8 out of 10.

·         Women diagnosed with breast cancer are now twice as likely to survive their disease for at least ten years than those diagnosed forty years ago.

·         More than three-quarters of women diagnosed with breast cancer now survive their disease for at least ten years or more.

·         Almost 2 out of 3 women with breast cancer now survive their disease beyond 20 years.

·         More than 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer at the earliest stage survive their disease for at least five years. This figure is around 15% for those women who are diagnosed with the most advanced stage disease.

 

How many people die from breast cancer?

·         In 2010 in the UK around 11,600 women died from breast cancer, that's around 32 every day.

·         Around 75 men died from breast cancer in the UK in 2010.

·         In 2010 in the UK around 1,200 deaths from breast cancer occurred in women aged under 50.

·         Since peaking in the late 1980s breast cancer death rates have fallen by almost 40% in the UK.

·         In the last ten years death rates for breast cancer in the UK have fallen by almost a fifth.

·         In the UK breast cancer is now the second most common cause of death from cancer in women after lung cancer.

·         More than half of breast cancer deaths in the UK are in women aged over 70.

·         In the European Union (EU-27), around 89,800 women died from breast cancer in 2008.

·         Worldwide it is estimated that more than 459,000 women died from breast cancer in 2008.

 

What causes breast cancer?

·         Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase breast cancer risk, although these gene faults are rare and account for a small proportion of cases.

·         Women with a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer have almost double the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer themselves.

·         Risk increases with the number of first-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer, but even so, eight out of nine breast cancers occur in women without a family history of breast cancer.

·         Being obese increases risk of postmenopausal breast cancer by up to 30%.

·         Around 9% of cases of breast cancer in the UK are linked to excess bodyweight.

·         Women currently using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have a 66% increased risk of breast cancer.

·         Use of HRT has fallen in the UK in recent years, although around 3% of breast cancer cases in the UK each year are linked to its use.

·         The risk of breast cancer in current users of oral contraceptives (OC) is increased by around a quarter but only 1% of all the breast cancer cases in the UK each year are linked to OC use.

·         Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer - and risk increases the more someone drinks. Around 3,100 cases of breast cancer in the UK each year are linked to alcohol consumption.

·         A more active lifestyle reduces breast cancer risk. Around 1,700 cases of breast cancer in the UK each year are linked to being physically inactive.