Wirral landmark buildings bathed in pink for breast cancer awareness
In a powerful display of solidarity, iconic buildings across Wirral have been bathed in pink throughout October to raise awareness around breast screening for early detection of breast cancer.
Clockwise: Michelle Leatherbarrow outside Arrowe Park Hospital; Victoria Monument, Hamilton Square Birkenhead; St Catherine's Health Centre, Birkenhead; Wallasey Town Hall; Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton.
The initiative was led by Wirral and Chester Breast Screening Programme, which arranged for Wirral landmark buildings to join Arrowe Park Hospital in lighting up pink. Wirral University Teaching Hospital is the host trust for the Wirral and Chester Breast Screening Service which operates from the Clatterbridge Hospital and St Catherine’s Hospital sites.
The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of the importance of breast screening in preventing cancer and saving lives. With around 1 in 5 people not taking up their screening invitation, the Breast Screening Team are urging people to attend their appointment when they receive their invitation for breast screening.
Michelle Leatherbarrow, Improving Breast Screening Uptake Officer at Wirral and Chester Breast Screening Programme, who approached the organisations about lighting up pink, said: “All women aged 50-70 will routinely receive a breast screening invitation. Routine screening can find breast cancers at early stages when they are too small to see or feel. When life is busy, it’s so easy to prioritise other things or forget to attend your appointment.”
Annette, a Wirral resident, shared her compelling story. When she received her first invitation at age 51 she hesitated, wondering if it was worth the time. She said: “None of my friends had bothered to go for their appointment, so it didn’t seem that important.” But something told her to go. That decision led to a diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer, a shocking discovery as she didn’t have any symptoms. Now, 15 years breast cancer-free, Annette reflects “I’m grateful every day that I made that choice. It has allowed me to see my grandchildren and great grandchildren growing up.”
From Wallasey Town Hall to Arrowe Park Hospital, the ‘lighting up pink’ initiative spans the Wirral, symbolising unity in the fight against breast cancer and raising public awareness across the community about the importance of breast screening.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst women in the UK. Almost all women with breast cancer survive their disease for 5 years or more if it is detected at the earliest stage. This figure falls to around 3 in 10 women when breast cancer is diagnosed at the most advanced stage.
Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive for Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: “Early detection of cancer saves lives, and our commitment to this initiative underscores the importance of accessible screening for all.”
People who have been invited for breast screening but not yet attended should call their local Breast Screening office to book in. Screening for women on the Wirral can be done at Clatterbridge Hospital or St Catherines Hospital.
The Wirral and Chester Breast Screening web page can be found here: