Mummy’s Star pendant created created to mark special mum’s life

Sian Hughes, whose sister-in-law Emily Hughes was diagnosed with breast cancer in pregnancy, is donating all of the profits of each bespoke, hand-crafted piece to Mummy’s Star.

Sian, who has been designing and creating contemporary jewellery for 15 years, said:

“I wanted to thank Mummy’s Star for the much-needed practical and emotional support they gave to my family during a very difficult time.

“The star in the design is a direct reference and tribute to Mummy’s Star and the hoop represents the circle of life and hope. Each one is shaped, soldered, and stamped by hand and the star can be personalised with initials or left plain.

“The response to the pendant so far has been overwhelming - I hope that is because they feel unique and beautiful, like the women that Mummy’s Star helps.”

Mummy’s Star is the only charity in the UK and Ireland dedicated to supporting women and their families affected by cancer during pregnancy.

The award-winning Glossop-based charity was founded by Pete Wallroth, after his wife Mair was diagnosed with cancer when she was 22 weeks pregnant. Two-months after giving birth to their second child, Merlin, Mair sadly passed away at age 41.

Every Mummy’s Star pendant is made from sterling silver and is priced at £45 with all the profits going directly to Mummy’s Star.

They be purchased by contacting sian@sianelizabethhughes.co.uk,
via Instagram SEHjewellery
or Sian Elizabeth Hughes Jewellery on Facebook
or via www.sianelizabethhughes.co.uk/shop

• Lockdown and social distancing resulted in a suspension of cancer screening services and routine diagnostic investigations were postponed.
• There was an estimated 80% decrease in the number of ‘urgent’ referrals of patients with suspected cancer made by GPs
• People with cancer symptoms were told to go to A&E during the peak of lockdown/COVID. Most people presenting at A&E were very sick and their cancer was much more advanced.
• Researchers at the Lancet estimate that around 3,500 people in England might die of the four main cancers (breast, lung, oesophageal and bowel) within the next five years as a result of delays in being diagnosed because of Covid-19.
• The absence of routine screening, combined with an ongoing reluctance of people to contact their GP with concerns and other delays in diagnosis could lead to a rise in breast cancer deaths by an estimated 8–10% (equivalent to between 281 and 344 additional deaths by 2025). colorectal (bowel) cancer deaths by 15–17% (1,445–1,563), a 5% (1,235–1,372) rise in lung cancer deaths, and a 6% (330–342) rise in deaths from oesophageal cancer over the next five years.
• Cancer Research UK has estimated that the first 10 weeks of the UK lockdown has already resulted in 2·1 million deferred cancer screening investigations with 290 000 fewer people being referred to a hospital for investigation (1).
• For every week that’s screening was paused, 7,000 people were not being referred for further tests and 380 cancers aren’t being diagnosed through screening programmes
• The number of cancer operations that took place between March 23 and June 1 fell by 60% of normal (expected) levels. So around 12,750 people were/are waiting for surgery across the UK
• Around 6000 less people also received chemotherapy during the first 10 weeks of lockdown.
• Ongoing social distancing measures may put some people off attending GP surgeries for routine screening- this will have a knock on impact
• Screening programmes take years to promote, raise awareness and encourage people to attend. They are aimed at healthy people with no symptoms to detect the earliest signs of cancer and are very successful. It may take a long time to get attendance back to where it was.