Press Release

July 16, 2008 – IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“I never expected to have one Mum with Cancer, let alone two – but that’s how I found myself in the Cancer Fall-out Zone.”

Anne Orchard knows from personal experience the pain of coping when a loved one has cancer.

Her mother died after an eight month battle against secondary brain tumours in August 1991 and she then helped her mother-in-law (her other ‘Mum’) fight breast cancer years later.

The 44-year-old from Charmouth wrote her first book ‘Their Cancer – Your Journey’ (available to pre-order from Amazon or online at www.familiesfacingcancer.org) after noticing a dearth of resources, support groups and literature for carers and loved ones.

Mrs Orchard, who has two sons aged nine and six, said: “The person who has cancer knows what their job is – to be completely selfish and do everything they can to get better.

“For the people around them who feel they have to be strong, they have no one to turn to, no one to cry to and no support network.

“I had never experienced cancer before mum was ill for eight months, which seemed a lifetime. I used to burst into tears at work because there was no other outlet.”

Mrs Orchard now acts as a mentor and life coach for those coping with the cancer of a loved one. She would like to see the same help offered to carers in every hospital treating cancer.

“Cancer takes no prisoners, it doesn’t pick and choose,” said Mrs Orchard, who is also a member of Dorchester coaches support group.

“One in three of us will get cancer at some point in our lives which means everybody is going to be one of those people on the sidelines.

“There’s not enough support out there. That degree of stress can have an impact on their health and could even lead to them getting cancer.”

Ends

Notes to editors

Two million people are living with, and after, cancer according to new research by Macmillan Cancer Support.

Amongst those statistics are talk show host Trisha Goddard, 50, who is battling breast cancer and breast cancer survivor Kylie Minogue, 40. Actor Patrick Swayze, 55, is being treated for pancreatic cancer while American swimming champion Eric Shanteau plans to compete in the Beijing Olympics before being treated for testicular cancer.

To obtain a review copy of ‘Their Cancer – Your Journey’ contact Anne Orchard on 01297 561591 or email anne@familiesfacingcancer.org or visit www.familiesfacingcancer.org for more information and media resources including photographs.

About Anne Orchard

Anne Orchard is an experienced life coach based in Dorset. Her areas of expertise include offering support to those affected by illness or the death of a loved one and helping then to rebuild their lives.