Making cancer checks accessible to all

The Sulliean House team in partnership with the Adult Speech and Language Therapy team supported an individual with PTEN linked to high breast cancer risk. 

The goal was to help and empower her to understand her diagnosis, attend medical appointments, and perform self-checks at home. 

The team created a Breast/Chest Health toolkit with social stories, Makaton signs, communication boards, and a personalised word dictionary. They delivered sessions, shared accessible information with hospital staff, and worked closely with parents and external healthcare partners to reduce barriers to care.  

The results were inspiring:  

• The individual managed her diagnosis and a double mastectomy with confidence.  

• Parents and staff felt more confident supporting self-checks and discussing breast/chest health. 

The initiative raised £422.20 for Breast Cancer Now and launched a breast / chest check promotion box now used across services.  

This highlights the power of accessible communication, collaboration, and reasonable adjustments in reducing health inequalities.   

Next, the team plans to expand this work to support testicle checks, continuing to make health info accessible for everyone.