Carmarthenshire advice on breast cancer
Quite simply ‘one of the lucky ones’ – the words of one Carmarthenshire County Council employee who has fought, and won, her battle against breast cancer.
Now a trained breast cancer support volunteer, Communities First Link Officer Delyth Rowland, of Ammanford, is passing on words of encouragement to countless women faced with the same fight at a health fayre being organised by the authority.
It was during a breast cancer conference in Carmarthen, which she was attending as part of job supporting women living in deprived areas of the county, that she became aware of the ‘signs’.
Just weeks later - after a freak accident whilst on a family holiday abroad – she visited her GP about bruising on her chest and was sent to Prince Philip Hospital’s Breast Care Centre for tests.
Although initially there didn’t seem to be anything wrong, it was during a routine MRI scan that an astute radiologist spotted a tumour in one of her breasts.
It turned out to be a second grade tumour, and because she was not displaying any symptoms it would quite literally have been too late by the time she was able to detect any changes in her breasts.
Delyth will now be manning one of the information stands at a Carmarthenshire County Council-run health fayre on November 5 [more details below].
The mother-of-two will be on hand to speak to women, and men, about ways of being more aware of their health and wellbeing and to advise them on how to spot the signs of a potentially deadly disease.
“I am attending this health fayre to give out information simply because I can,” she said.
“I feel very lucky that I have got through my treatment and that I am still here - I am one of the lucky ones, because lets face it, many women don’t make it.
“I was 37 when I was diagnosed, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and no-one in my family has ever had breast cancer so it came completely out of the blue.
“There is no stereotype when it comes to breast cancer – it could happen to any one of us.”
Throughout her chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, Delyth continued to work with the council’s regeneration department with the support of colleagues and the authority’s occupational health department.
“Carmarthenshire County Council was fantastic,” she said. “I worked throughout my treatment and I had a lot of support – I don’t think that without this support I would have been able to continue working.
“This is why I am working with the occupational health unit now to make people more aware of their health.
“I want to be able to support women who are diagnosed, and help other women to overcome barriers so that they are more aware of their health and feel able to go to their GPs with any concerns.”
Delyth has now completed her treatment plan and is back in work at Llanelli Town Hall full-time.
As well as her day job, she spends many hours volunteering for Breast Aware Wales supporting newly diagnosed women from Prince Philip’s Breast Care Centre.
“I hope people will attend the fair to become more aware of ways to take responsibility for their own health,” she said.
“It’s understandable that some people may be frightened by knowledge, but it is the lack of knowledge that is the most dangerous thing – people must remember that the chance of surviving breast cancer is highest when it is diagnosed sooner rather than later.”
The health fayre, being organised by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Occupational Health Unit, will be held at St Peter’s Civic Hall on Thursday, November 5, between 11am and 3pm.
Sponsored by Carmarthenshire’s Fusion fitness clubs and Vitality scheme, it will include demonstrations, advice, information and health testing with the aim of helping people improve their health and well being.
Dozens of different organisations will be attending, offering blood pressure testing, Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations, screening for breast, bowel and cervical cancer, plus cardiovascular and osteoporosis testing.
There will also be fitness demonstrations, alternative therapy taster sessions, Indian head massage, reflexology, shoulder massage and seed potting from the allotment society.
Anyone visiting the event will also be entered into a competition with a range of prizes on offer including tickets for a Scarlets game, a signed Scarlets T-shirt, free seven-day gym sessions and free swimming sessions.
A day at the Machynys spa is also on offer through an online competition being run on the council website at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk.
Social care and health executive board member Cllr Pat Jones said: “This health fayre is a great opportunity for people to have free health testing and screening, demonstrations, advice and access to a whole range of other services all under one roof.
“We will be encouraging council staff to take advantage of this event, and hope as many people as possible will attend.”
Now a trained breast cancer support volunteer, Communities First Link Officer Delyth Rowland, of Ammanford, is passing on words of encouragement to countless women faced with the same fight at a health fayre being organised by the authority.
It was during a breast cancer conference in Carmarthen, which she was attending as part of job supporting women living in deprived areas of the county, that she became aware of the ‘signs’.
Just weeks later - after a freak accident whilst on a family holiday abroad – she visited her GP about bruising on her chest and was sent to Prince Philip Hospital’s Breast Care Centre for tests.
Although initially there didn’t seem to be anything wrong, it was during a routine MRI scan that an astute radiologist spotted a tumour in one of her breasts.
It turned out to be a second grade tumour, and because she was not displaying any symptoms it would quite literally have been too late by the time she was able to detect any changes in her breasts.
Delyth will now be manning one of the information stands at a Carmarthenshire County Council-run health fayre on November 5 [more details below].
The mother-of-two will be on hand to speak to women, and men, about ways of being more aware of their health and wellbeing and to advise them on how to spot the signs of a potentially deadly disease.
“I am attending this health fayre to give out information simply because I can,” she said.
“I feel very lucky that I have got through my treatment and that I am still here - I am one of the lucky ones, because lets face it, many women don’t make it.
“I was 37 when I was diagnosed, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and no-one in my family has ever had breast cancer so it came completely out of the blue.
“There is no stereotype when it comes to breast cancer – it could happen to any one of us.”
Throughout her chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, Delyth continued to work with the council’s regeneration department with the support of colleagues and the authority’s occupational health department.
“Carmarthenshire County Council was fantastic,” she said. “I worked throughout my treatment and I had a lot of support – I don’t think that without this support I would have been able to continue working.
“This is why I am working with the occupational health unit now to make people more aware of their health.
“I want to be able to support women who are diagnosed, and help other women to overcome barriers so that they are more aware of their health and feel able to go to their GPs with any concerns.”
Delyth has now completed her treatment plan and is back in work at Llanelli Town Hall full-time.
As well as her day job, she spends many hours volunteering for Breast Aware Wales supporting newly diagnosed women from Prince Philip’s Breast Care Centre.
“I hope people will attend the fair to become more aware of ways to take responsibility for their own health,” she said.
“It’s understandable that some people may be frightened by knowledge, but it is the lack of knowledge that is the most dangerous thing – people must remember that the chance of surviving breast cancer is highest when it is diagnosed sooner rather than later.”
The health fayre, being organised by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Occupational Health Unit, will be held at St Peter’s Civic Hall on Thursday, November 5, between 11am and 3pm.
Sponsored by Carmarthenshire’s Fusion fitness clubs and Vitality scheme, it will include demonstrations, advice, information and health testing with the aim of helping people improve their health and well being.
Dozens of different organisations will be attending, offering blood pressure testing, Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations, screening for breast, bowel and cervical cancer, plus cardiovascular and osteoporosis testing.
There will also be fitness demonstrations, alternative therapy taster sessions, Indian head massage, reflexology, shoulder massage and seed potting from the allotment society.
Anyone visiting the event will also be entered into a competition with a range of prizes on offer including tickets for a Scarlets game, a signed Scarlets T-shirt, free seven-day gym sessions and free swimming sessions.
A day at the Machynys spa is also on offer through an online competition being run on the council website at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk.
Social care and health executive board member Cllr Pat Jones said: “This health fayre is a great opportunity for people to have free health testing and screening, demonstrations, advice and access to a whole range of other services all under one roof.
“We will be encouraging council staff to take advantage of this event, and hope as many people as possible will attend.”
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