Web Supports Women Who Face Breast Cancer, UK

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 09 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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By 1st October 2008, the first day of breast cancer awareness month, 45,485 women had posted requests for support and advice on iVillage.co.uk's breast cancer board. Many of whom were worried and unsure about what lay ahead.

Dismayed at the reported lack of information from GPs, community leaders at iVillage.co.uk, the UK 's leading women's website are today calling for greater support and information from the NHS about what lies beyond the lump.

"We see so many stories on our boards of women needing support and even encouragement to go back to their doctor when things don't seem right. It seems that when these women are going through the referral process, they know so little about what to expect and when to expect it," says Sarah Fletcher, Head of Community at iVillage.

"Other women on the site who have been through the experience are there to help these women as they go through the myriad of emotions. But so many ask why their GP and the NHS gives them so little support," she continues.

To lobby GPs, iVilllage.co.uk is asking its users to visit the breast cancer support board at http://messageboards.ivillage.co.uk/iv-ukhlbcs to share their experiences as well as stating how or whether they think the NHS can do more to support women going through this frightening ordeal. New members, simply click on the breast cancer message board and click on "getting started".

With diet, lifestyle tips and information on awareness and self examination, iVillage.co.uk aims to advise women on minimising the risk of cancer. To mark breast awareness month, iVillage.co.uk has switched to a pink logo and is also featuring stories from real women who have been through diagnosis and treatment. There are also pages on the facts and myths, what happens when you are screened for the disease and the treatment; Plus how to support a friend or loved one through this very difficult time.

For more information on breast cancer, go to http://www.ivillage.co.uk/breastcancer.

About iVillage UK

iVillage UK (iVillage.co.uk) is part of iVillage Inc., a division of NBC Universal. It is part of the first and largest media company dedicated exclusively to connecting women at every stage of their lives.

iVillage.co.uk is the UK 's leading website for women with more than 2 million unique visitors (Omniture, 2008) and offers women the tools they need in their everyday lives. Focusing on the issues that matter most to women, iVillage.co.uk provides compelling content - information, advice and support across content channels that include Diet & Fitness, Relationships, Health, Beauty, Pregnancy & Baby, Parenting, Food & Drink, Travel, Horoscopes, Entertainment, Home & Garden, Work & Money. What makes iVillage different from any other website for women is that it has an active community, through its message boards where women come together to share their experiences and give valuable advice to those who need it, and via it's social network where they share ideas, blogs, pictures and bookmarking with likeminded women from all over the country.

iVillage UK

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