Breast cancer fighters and survivors will join to launch Breast Cancer Awareness Month tomorrow. Health Reporter Charlotte Percival discovers why women in York and North Yorkshire have reason to feel positive.

HERE is good news for women everywhere. More people are defying breast cancer than ever before in York and all over the country.

Death rates have fallen by a quarter in the last 15 years, while research is constantly being undertaken to find new treatments.

On Monday, York Hospital's new integrated breast unit will hold its first clinic.

The £6.1million unit boasts two comfortable waiting rooms, nine examination rooms, four mammogram rooms and two ultrasound rooms, plus offices.

Breast clinician Dr Jeanne Smales explained how women, and the small number of men referred to the unit, will now be afforded greater privacy, comfort and care.

"The new facilities are beautiful; we feel very lucky indeed," she said. "Things are well spaced out here so patients will have more confidentiality, rather than being able to hear other people or seeing other patients if they are distressed.

"If they are upset then we have quiet rooms where they can go to be alone or sit with their partner, of family or friend."

Patients will be referred to the unit through two routes.

The first is under the National Breast Screening Programme, which offers three-yearly mammograms to woman aged between 50 and 70.

About 20,000 women a year are screened by the hospital's three mobile screening units which tour North Yorkshire, plus a static unit in York. Mop up sessions are held at the unit every Tuesday afternoon.

About four per cent will be recalled to the unit, although not necessarily because they have cancer.

Other patients will be referred straight from their GPs, often having found lumps themselves.

Upon arriving at reception, patients will be shown upstairs.

Those requiring a second mammogram will be taken straight to a radiographer, while those referred from their doctors will wait in the comfy waiting room until a nurse collects them.

They will be taken to an examination room where they will be asked a series of questions and examined.

Some will need more tests, such as a needle sample of the breast, a mammogram for older women, or an ultra sound for younger women.

The results will be available within three hours of arriving at the unit.

A one-stop-shop clinic will be held on Wednesdays, second stage screening on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and a clinic for people with special needs who are unable to attend the mobile units on a Friday afternoon.

Follow-up appointments for patients who have had surgery will be held during the other afternoons.

Dr Smales said women had good reason to feel positive about breast cancer care.

"I would say that it's not only the length of time people are surviving it but it's the quality of life," she said.

"Hence more understanding of breast reconstruction if people have had a mastectomy; and York is leading with way with reconstruction.

"Picking up cases early also means more people have the chance of successful treatment."

Debbie Nicholson, multi disciplinary team coordinator, said breast awareness was vital.

"Only a small percentage of ladies referred by their GP have breast cancer, but breast awareness is crucial; irrespective of age and family history," she said.

"Look in the mirror and watch out for any changes in your breast and know what is normal for you."

Tomorrow, men, women and children will take a stand against the disease by supporting Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Survivors and supporters will ride around the centre of York on an open-topped bus for Cancer Research UK's Circle of Bras event, leaving from Clifford's Tower at 10am.

Onboard, participants will enjoy a pink party to celebrate breast cancer survivors and raise awareness of research.

To reserve a place, phone 0113 231 9828.

Updated: 10:30 Friday, September 30, 2005