BREAST cancer patients were able to enjoy each other’s company and support as part of the annual lunch for past and present patients held by Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust staff.

The lunch was first held 28 years ago so that existing patients could share their experiences and provide additional support to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, away from the clinical setting of a hospital.

This year the event raised funds for the Stars Appeal Breast Cancer Unit Campaign and included a special presentation by consultant breast surgeon Anna Aertssen detailing the new unit and fundraising campaign.

Sonnya Dabill, a specialist breast care nurse, said: “The lunch was a great success and it was a pleasure to see so many of our patients and former patients there.

“We were especially delighted by their enthusiastic response to the new campaign, with many making donations and offering to organise fundraising events. The support of these ladies will be vital as we strive to raise the £750,000 we need to build our new unit.”

Breast cancer is a complex disease that can affect both men and women with around 46,000 woman in the UK diagnosed with the disease each year.

It can affect women at any age and one in eight women will get breast cancer at some time in their life. In addition, around 300 men in the UK get breast cancer each year, although these are more likely to be men who are over 50.

The lunch took place last Wednesday, October 8 at the Michael Herbert Hall in Wilton.