On Saturday 24th May, a group of Rugbeians completed a sponsored walk to raise money for the Lobular Moon Shot Project, funding research into lobular breast cancer. Their theme was ’22 for the 22’ and they walked 22km for the 22 women a day in the UK who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer. The walk took them from St Cross Hospital in Rugby, where an increasing number of patients are getting treatment for breast cancer, to the Red Lion pub in Hunningham.

Organiser and fundraiser, Jayne Brumpton, who is a teacher at Bilton Grange, said, “It is so important for us to get the message out there about lobular breast cancer, which affects 10-15% of women who have a breast cancer diagnosis. People were shocked to hear that lobular behaves differently to other breast cancers and, in its early stages, doesn’t form lumps but spreads through the breast tissue like a spider’s web. Consequently, it is hard to feel and can even be missed on mammograms. Like many cancers, it is key with breast cancer to catch it early. If you have a small tumour, with no spread to the lymph nodes, your prognosis is very good. Lobular breast cancer patients tend to be diagnosed later, with larger tumours and lymph node involvement, indicating that the cancer has started to spread. Prognosis at later stages is not quite so good and patients need more aggressive treatment.”

Jayne added, “When I was diagnosed, I had a tumour nearly 4cm big and 8 of my lymph nodes were cancerous. It was so scary to hear those figures. I had to have some tough treatment – 2 surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and I have just finished 2 years of targeted therapy, a sort of oral chemo. Throughout all of this, my friends and colleagues at Bilton Grange have been a tremendous support for me. I could not have got through all that without them.”

For the last two years, Jayne has been raising money for the Lobular Moon Shot Project, which is funding research into this type of breast cancer at the Manchester Breast Centre. The aim is to develop a specific treatment for lobular which addresses the unusual way in which it grows and spreads.

“I feel so lucky to have the Rugbeian Community supporting me, both doing this walk and donating very generously to the cause which is so close to my heart,“ Jayne said. “We have raised nearly £1000 so far, towards funding this crucial research, and we still have donations coming in.”

If anyone would like to know more about the Lobular Moon Shot Project, please visit their website at Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer: 'Moon Shot Project'