Clare Everson writes on one young woman’s battle with breast cancer, and her drive to increase our generation’s awareness of its dangers
As I get older I am realising more and more that doctors are not superhuman. It would be nice to think that you go to the doctor, you tell them a tick-list of symptoms, and they assign you the correct pill to make everything perfect again. Cancer does not work like this. Cancer somehow has cunningly devised a way of disguising itself, manipulating its give-aways to hide in our bodies, undetected. Luckily, we are stronger and we are not scared.
In 2009, 23 year old Kristin Hallenga set up ‘CoppaFeel!’, a charity that raises awareness of breast cancer in young people
One young woman in particular has recently started an incredibly successful and exciting breast cancer campaign, with a twist. In 2009, 23 year old Kristin Hallenga set up ‘CoppaFeel!’, a charity that raises awareness of breast cancer in young people, educating them about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and encouraging them to regularly enlist their ‘little soldiers’ to check for these early signs. Kristin is, in my eyes, an extraordinary woman with Richter-scale courage, determination and positivity, from whom we could all certainly learn a lot. Her story is inspiring on a remarkable scale.
At 23, most of us are travelling, partying, worrying about whether beans on toast is really an acceptable meal to have tonight, travelling and partying some more. For Kristin, somewhere between travelling and going out with her friends, she was hit with the news that breast cancer would also be on the agenda. 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, 80% of those diagnosed are over 50. But this does not mean that we should only start checking ourselves when we start making pack lunches and taking the kids to school. At 23, Kristin’s tumours were likely to be more aggressive. In an interview with The Independent she said: ‘At my age I had a one in 15,000 chance of getting breast cancer so obviously I am a bit special’. 400 men are also diagnosed with breast cancer every year, dispelling the myth that it is only women who can develop this strand of the disease.
At 23, most of us are travelling, partying, worrying about whether beans on toast is really an acceptable meal to have tonight, travelling and partying some more. For Kristin, somewhere between travelling and going out with her friends, she was hit with the news that breast cancer would also be on the agenda. 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, 80% of those diagnosed are over 50. But this does not mean that we should only start checking ourselves when we start making pack lunches and taking the kids to school. At 23, Kristin’s tumours were likely to be more aggressive. In an interview with The Independent she said: ‘At my age I had a one in 15,000 chance of getting breast cancer so obviously I am a bit special’. 400 men are also diagnosed with breast cancer every year, dispelling the myth that it is only women who can develop this strand of the disease.
This was stage 4 cancer, and as she very frankly states in her blog, there is no stage 5
Despite going to her GP with complaints of a suspicious lump in her breast in 2008, the GP brushed it off on the basis that at such a young age, it was just hormones. She was given the go-ahead to travel to China for 6 months, during which the pain in her breast would often wake her in the night. When she returned home, Kristin’s mum demanded a referral from the same GP, dissatisfied with what she thought to be a bogus ‘hormone’ explanation. By this point, Kristin was diagnosed not only with breast cancer, but with secondary cancer, where it had spread to her spine. This was stage 4 cancer, and as she very frankly states in her blog, there is no stage 5. What followed was a range of painful, intensive treatments including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a mastectomy. What is clear is that Kristin is never one to shy away from anything. In the same interview with The Independent, she assured: The mastectomy was not a problem. Knowing this thing was trying to kill me, I was just glad to get rid… One breast is not going to define who I am. I want to live’.
A regular breast cancer support group was not enough for Kristin. She realised that it was young people were the ones who weren’t being educated about the signs of breast cancer early enough. Within a month of being diagnosed, she threw all her energy in to revamping the behaviours and attitudes surrounding the disease in young people, which she did through founding CoppaFeel!. With her one voice, she had started something quite unbelievable.
A regular breast cancer support group was not enough for Kristin. She realised that it was young people were the ones who weren’t being educated about the signs of breast cancer early enough. Within a month of being diagnosed, she threw all her energy in to revamping the behaviours and attitudes surrounding the disease in young people, which she did through founding CoppaFeel!. With her one voice, she had started something quite unbelievable.
Four years on, evidence of Kristin’s drive and hard-work can be seen in many Universities, schools and music festivals, where her story continues to inspire
She first designed a logo and website before sorting permission to hold a gazebo at Beach Break Live 2009 where they handed out T-shirts and stickers promoting the charity’s three main aims: 1) To check your boobs (You won't know what's normal for you until you check regularly and make it a 'habit of a lifetime’); 2) Know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer; and 3) If you think something is wrong, get it checked out.
Four years on, evidence of Kristin’s drive and hard-work can be seen in many Universities, schools and music festivals, where her story continues to inspire. I am now part of Durham University Boob Team, one of many University teams throughout the country who aim to raise awareness, knowledge and understanding of breast cancer symptoms, whilst organising frequent fundraising events to raise money for the charity. At all our events we provide cards with all the symptoms to look out for, and simple instructions for how to receive your free monthly jokey text messages to remind you to CoppaFeel!. You can like us on Facebook, ‘CoppaFeel! Durham’, to find out about up-coming fundraising events within Durham as well as larger events being advertised on the charity’s website: www.coppafeel.org. It’s a great website full of fun ideas, encouraging hundreds of supporters to ‘Bike for Boobies’, ‘Jog for Jugs’, or participate in a ‘Boob flashdance’ to raise funds. Loads of celebrities have been involved with events, such as Fearne Cotton, Dermot O’Leary and Newton Faulkner, who headlined at CoppaFeel!’s first ‘Festifeel!’ in 2010.
If I’d like to achieve anything at Durham this year, it is to spread Kristin’s bravery and gumption to as many people as I possibly can. You cannot ignore the amazing work this lady has done for breast cancer awareness, and the huge impact that CoppaFeel! is having on young people. In Kristin’s words: "Let's try and kill this scary stigma attached to cancer. If you find it early it does not have to be this horrendous disease”.
Four years on, evidence of Kristin’s drive and hard-work can be seen in many Universities, schools and music festivals, where her story continues to inspire. I am now part of Durham University Boob Team, one of many University teams throughout the country who aim to raise awareness, knowledge and understanding of breast cancer symptoms, whilst organising frequent fundraising events to raise money for the charity. At all our events we provide cards with all the symptoms to look out for, and simple instructions for how to receive your free monthly jokey text messages to remind you to CoppaFeel!. You can like us on Facebook, ‘CoppaFeel! Durham’, to find out about up-coming fundraising events within Durham as well as larger events being advertised on the charity’s website: www.coppafeel.org. It’s a great website full of fun ideas, encouraging hundreds of supporters to ‘Bike for Boobies’, ‘Jog for Jugs’, or participate in a ‘Boob flashdance’ to raise funds. Loads of celebrities have been involved with events, such as Fearne Cotton, Dermot O’Leary and Newton Faulkner, who headlined at CoppaFeel!’s first ‘Festifeel!’ in 2010.
If I’d like to achieve anything at Durham this year, it is to spread Kristin’s bravery and gumption to as many people as I possibly can. You cannot ignore the amazing work this lady has done for breast cancer awareness, and the huge impact that CoppaFeel! is having on young people. In Kristin’s words: "Let's try and kill this scary stigma attached to cancer. If you find it early it does not have to be this horrendous disease”.