METUPUK’s award winning campaign The Darker Side of Pink, highlighting the 31 women a day who die of Breast Cancer, is coming to Rochester Cathedral.
‘The Darker Side of Pink’ was launched in Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2021 by METUPUK – the UK’s only patient advocacy group dedicated to Metastatic (Secondary) Breast Cancer (MBC) – to expose the thoughts and frustrations of living with the disease, which kills 31 women in the UK every day. It is the leading cause of death of women 35 - 64 in England*
Each of the ‘Invisible Women’ show a QR code, which can be scanned to reveal videos telling the individual statements of 31 of the group’s advocates. During the short time the campaign has been running, seven of the women filmed back in September 2021 have sadly died – reinforcing the importance of the campaign.
Local MPs have been invited to see the campaign and to meet with METUPUK members to discuss the issues we need focus on.
Founder of METUPUK, Jo Taylor has been campaigning since 2016 to promote the issues affecting those diagnosed, highlighting not just the red flag signs and symptoms but also the lack of access to drugs, treatments, surgeries and clinical trials as well as the lack of data in this area.
Jo Taylor, said: “Breast Cancer awareness is hugely important and valuable to many women, but the uncomfortable truth is that metastatic breast cancer is incurable and killing almost 1,000 of our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends every month. It can’t be sugar-coated and is severely under-represented in the global conversation around breast cancer. We’re passionate about changing the narrative to ensure that every woman facing metastatic breast cancer is supported and valued.”
“Tender God, life-giving Spirit, you compassionately hold the entire world in your hands.
In your mercy, hear the prayers of your people: guard over the sick and suffering and especially those who suffer with breast cancer; grant them patience, hope, and peace, we pray:
Give courage to those with fearful hearts, especially those who feel isolated because of their illness; nourish and sustain them.Merciful God, hear our prayer.
Strengthen those who give their energy and skill to healing the sick: doctors and nurses, surgeons and specialists, and all who seek new ways of relieving suffering.
Bless all those who devote themselves to scientific research for the benefit of the human family, especially those who dedicate their efforts to cancer research.
This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our healer and Lord. Amen.”
Local METUPUK member and one of the 31 ladies featured, Madeleine Maynall, said "I am delighted Darker Side of Pink is coming to Rochester Cathedral. It's a beautiful venue to showcase the serious subject of metastatic breast cancer which kills 31 women every day. I want to pay a particular tribute to Connie Johncock who was a proud Medway woman and a founding trustee of METUPUK. It was her vision for the Darker Side of Pink to be displayed in Rochester Cathedral. She died in March aged 33, after living with metastatic breast cancer for 10 years. To date seven of the women in the exhibition have died from metastatic breast cancer, the largest cause of death in women aged 35-65"
MBC occurs when the cancer has travelled from the primary breast site through the blood or lymphatic system to a distant area of the body. When this happens, it becomes an incurable disease. Amongst those diagnosed with early-stage Breast Cancer, approximately 30% will go on to develop MBC.
The Rev’d Canon Dr Gordon Giles, Canon Chancellor at Rochester Cathedral writes
“It is a poignant honour for us at Rochester Cathedral to welcome the installation of the Darker Side of Pink silhouettes. Almost everyone has known someone who has suffered from breast cancer; died of it or been a survivor of this prevalent and pernicious condition. So it is very important that we align ourselves with all those who are campaigning for better treatment and care for those who suffer from breast cancer and we are delighted to be able to do that. Here we remember with affection, Connie, with whom the installation was first mooted last year. We hope that having the silhouettes here will offer hope and inspiration to all those connected with breast cancer charities, and we join our thanks to that of so many people worldwide who are grateful for the work of cancer medicine and surgery and research. And we offer our prayers for all those who have suffered, who have died, and who have lost loved ones.”
*Leading causes of death by age group, England, 2020 Source: Office for National Statistics Nomis.
