One in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Our aim is to build a new breast care centre that will ensure that patients from across Bristol, Gloucestershire and North Somerset continue to receive the highest levels of care with access to the first-rate facilities to match.
Challenges with current provision:
- patients must visit a number of different sites in Bristol in the different stages of their screening, diagnosis, treatment and after-care journey, causing a very fragmented and distressing experience
- patients have identified the difficulties in receiving traumatic news, without having the appropriate spaces to think and take in their diagnosis and treatment options
- patients have spoken of the difficulty of sharing outpatient facilities with patients who were visiting for screening or routine appointments.
In order to provide the best possible care to women in the region, the centre will offer the following:
What we'll deliver:
- a children’s play corner
- a first-rate mammography suite
- dedicated waiting areas and calming consultation spaces
- private, tranquil places for breast care patients and their families
- specially designed secret outdoor gardens
Why it's a great idea:
“It was wonderful to have the survivorship sessions where I learnt what to worry about, and what not to worry about. I also had relaxation sessions with the offer of counselling if I needed it...I wish all patients could have this.” Patient
At the new centre we will be working in close partnership with the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative to explore new ways of supporting cancer survivors to increase their life expectancy, enjoy a healthy and active life and have as much control over their symptoms and treatment as possible.
The new Bristol Breast Care Centre will be adjacent to a new Macmillan Wellbeing Centre, so that we will be able to provide information and holistic support to people throughout their cancer journeys and beyond.
Steps to get it done:
- We need your help to raise the remaining £500,000 to complete works and start receiving patients in Autumn 2014
- We have been working to raise £4.5m for the new centre and are delighted to have raised the majority of funds needed
“What I want, more than anything, is for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer not to feel so desperate and terrified, to be treated with as much care as possible and to remove as much stress as possible from their experience.” Patient
