Most of our lives have been touched by cancer

You may even know someone who is living with cancer or has sadly died of a cancer illness recently.

Action Cancer are committed to saving lives and supporting people affected by cancer in our community.

They must raise 3.6 million per year to operate their life saving services. By making a pledge to support them you will be doing your bit to fight cancer.

You can help save lives now and into the future. Your donation can help them fund awareness campaigns which promote early detection of cancers, which if caught early can be treated successfully.

Your donation can also help them fund world class cancer research at Northern Ireland universities - in recent years Action Cancer researchers have made significant advances in understanding how cancer spreads through the body.

Your donation can also help the charity support people in Northern Ireland who are living with cancer.

Action Cancer has been screening women in Northern Ireland for breast cancer since 1978, ten years ahead of the NHS.

Women aged 40-49 and 70+ can contact Action Cancer to arrange an appointment which can be at Action Cancer House in Belfast or on the Action Cancer Big Bus.

The Big Bus travels across Northern Ireland visiting communities and workplaces in each Health Board on a monthly basis.

Each month Action Cancer offers, on average, 1,100 appointments for breast screening. Action Cancer House offers appointments Monday to Friday with some evening clinics available for those who work.

The Big Bus operates between 10am and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday. A Special Clinic is also available at Action Cancer House for those women who have difficulty accessing screening services – this includes women with disabilities and ethnic minorities.

The clinic in Action Cancer can also accommodate groups who perhaps would prefer to come together.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month occurs annually in October and provides an important platform for Action Cancer to increase awareness of breast cancer symptoms and of Action Cancer's breast screening programme for women 40-49 and 70+.

Action Cancer is the only charity in Northern Ireland offering early detection services to women concerned about breast cancer.

In April 2005 they lowered their screening age from 45 to 40 years and now compliment the NHS who begin their screening at the age of 50 until 70.

Over 1,000 appointments for breast screening are available every month and approximately seven breast cancers are detected each month.

Breast cancer is the second most common female cancer in Northern Ireland with over 1,000 women diagnosed each year.

It is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in females with around 300 women losing their lives to breast cancer every year.

With 40,000 people living with cancer at any one stage in Northern Ireland there are often many unanswered questions and emotions that people can end up dealing with on their own.

The Listening Ear Service (LES) is designed to offer support and signposting in an informal setting on a face-to-face basis, as and when it's needed.

The service is available to anyone diagnosed with cancer and their family, close friends or carers.

Dealing with cancer is difficult on its own but it also impacts on many other areas of your life and it can be difficult to know what help is available and where.

LES offers signposting to other local services to help with issues such as childcare, financial assistance and transport issues among many others.

When dealing with cancer people can try to bottle their emotions and 'be strong' which can increase stress and anxiety.

Often people need to talk about their worries and emotions, but they don't feel counselling is appropriate.

The Listening Ear Service offers a safe place where people can talk about their situation with someone who isn't emotionally involved.

Often this is a one-off appointment to help people move forward and enhance their quality of life.

The Listening Ear Service is a confidential service run by highly trained volunteers who have undergone a strict recruitment procedure and an accredited training programme.