
Volunteers are worth their weight in gold and Jane Crockett, Lead Volunteer for the Keeping Abreast Norwich Support Group, has proved to be invaluable. She explains how she became involved with the local breast cancer reconstruction support charity, what she loves about volunteering and what the highlights have been over the years…
Jane Crockett became involved with Keeping Abreast over 14 years ago when she met a lady in her home town of Wymondham who had undergone a similar breast reconstruction before her. Jane had already attended a couple of the charity’s support groups, which were held at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) at the time, but then she started attending their outreach meetings too. She was encouraged to join the Keeping Abreast Committee and took over the role of Secretary of the newly-formed Keeping Abreast Norwich Group, later becoming Secretary and Lead Volunteer in 2018.
Jane’s volunteer role is very busy, as she explains: “I head the group, book support and outreach sessions, recruit, communicate with and support Norwich volunteers, run fundraising events and help at KA HQ events. I liaise with KA HQ staff and medical staff at NNUH, mainly in the Plastics Outpatients Department, and do the banking and purchasing, along with the Treasurer who keeps tabs on finance and produces annual accounts.”
The Keeping Abreast Norwich Support Group raises funds to benefit breast cancer reconstruction patients and those who look after them at the NNUH, with recent funding paying for a portable ultrasound machine and a new nipple tattoo machine for the Plastic Surgery Outpatients Department, along with medical tattoo training for one of the hospital’s breast reconstruction nurse specialists.
The funding that the Norwich Support Group raises also pays for the comfort and care packs which are given to breast reconstruction patients post-surgery to aid their recovery.
As Jane says: “This involves buying bra vouchers and other items, liaising with my wonderful sewing ladies who provide hand-made drain bags and heart-shaped cushions, and then delivering the packed items to NNUH when requested by the ward physiotherapists.”


Jane and her fellow Keeping Abreast Norwich Volunteers also provide one-to-one support over the phone or in person between meetings.
The charity’s Norwich Support Group has formed close relationships with local retailers and suppliers over the years, as Jane explains: “I have an excellent relationship with the specialist bra fitters at M&S Norwich which has grown over several years.
Alison Pearce and some of her team have attended support groups and learned so much about fitting post-breast reconstruction surgery customers with comfortable bras, and the physical and emotional aspects which are especially important when fitting for the first bra to suit someone’s individual post-surgery shape.
In turn, Alison and her team have raised several thousand pounds for us and have put on some special lingerie evenings at the store.”
This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Marks & Spencer Norwich is supplying the underwear for the lingerie section of the Keeping Abreast Fashion Show which will take place at the Norfolk Showground in Norwich on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th October
[visit: https://events.mhtickets.com/events/81426 for tickets].
Jane will be there helping behind the scenes, to make sure the models – all breast cancer reconstruction patients – feel confident in their lingerie so that they can sashay down the catwalk in style.
How do the face-to-face Support Groups work? Jane explains: “The KA Norwich Support Groups are open to anyone considering or undergoing breast reconstruction after a breast cancer diagnosis or for preventative reasons. We also welcome ladies post-surgery who like to attend for a bit of reassurance and all attending are welcome to bring a family member or friend. We greet visitors at the door, take their name and ask for a little bit of their breast cancer story which enables us to pair them up for conversation with one of our experienced volunteers who has undergone the relevant type of reconstruction. We like to offer one-to-one support, but this depends on the number of volunteers and patients who attend each meeting. A cup of tea or coffee is always offered on arrival and biscuits if I remember to buy them! Later a few of the volunteers go through to a separate room where they show results of their own reconstructions to those patients wishing to view.”
“We try to include volunteers with different types of reconstructions – there are two main types, autologous (using your own tissue from another area of your body) or implant, and some ladies have reconstruction in the same surgery as mastectomy, while others have reconstruction further down the line. We find this part of the evening most rewarding as the patients are usually amazed at how good reconstructions can look in the flesh.”
“Most people who come along to meetings tell us that talking things through with someone who has been through similar surgery is a great comfort, especially when they see the results. We don’t talk about the medical aspects of surgery, but we speak from our own experience and we feel privileged to comfort ladies making decisions regarding their own surgeries when they are often feeling vulnerable and emotional.”

Jane was diagnosed with DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ – effectively, breast cancer waiting to happen) in her right breast at her second routine mammogram when she was 54. She had a mastectomy and an immediate DIEP flap reconstruction using tummy tissue to create her new breast mound. The ten-hour surgery took place in August 2009 and included symmetry surgery on her “good” breast too. A year later she had a nipple created, a breast lift, followed by some lipo-filling sessions. A nipple and areola tattoo completed her reconstruction, along with a course of Tamoxifen which she took for five years.
Jane confides: “I have never regretted my decision for a moment but do understand that some patients who come to Keeping Abreast for support feel that reconstruction isn’t for them. Strangely, I didn’t seek help from KA before my surgery as I was confident in my choices and wanted to get on with things in my own way. I’m usually unflappable and the surgeons and anaesthetists commented about how calm I was each time I entered the operating theatre! Soon after my surgery I found that I liked meeting with, and talking to, other reconstruction patients as we all have that common bond of breast cancer affecting our lives in some way. I still feel this and have made many wonderful friends through breast cancer and KA although I’m sad to have lost quite a few close friends to this awful disease.”
Jane is often told that she has a friendly smile and a calm manner, and there’s no doubt that she cares deeply about trying to make things better for everyone. Besides running the Keeping Abreast Norwich Support Group, she also organises Keeping Abreast outreach meetings in Wymondham which usually take place monthly during the day at the Star Throwers Cancer Centre.
Jane says: “Star Throwers opened just after I had my own surgery, and I benefitted greatly from the services and friendship offered there.”

So, what is it that keeps Jane volunteering for Keeping Abreast? She reflects: “I have already mentioned special friendships and that’s a huge part of it.
I think all our volunteers benefit greatly from showing new patients that there is good and ‘normal’ life to be had after breast cancer and extensive surgery and that, although our breasts will never be the same as they were, I think they’re a pretty good imitation.
I’ve always liked organisation and administration and when I took voluntary redundancy/retirement from my job – with Norfolk County Council’s Adult Education Service – KA filled a huge gap and gave me a focus and a purpose.
It brought out the caring side of me too; perhaps I should have pursued a thought I once had about training as a counsellor!”
Jane continues: “Pre-pandemic, I organised several annual Booby Cupcake Sales at NNUH where volunteers and I made hundreds of cupcakes mostly with a ‘boob’ theme featuring lots of pink and chocolate icing, cherries, marshmallows and great imaginations! These were always so popular and well supported and we raised lots of money. For several years we have been offered stall space at the Festive Fair at The Forum in Norwich. These take place in late November (this year on 28th, 29th and 30th November and 1st December) and we hold a four-day tombola and second-hand paperback books sale. We need an awful lot of prizes for four days, so I spend spare time crafting items such as scarves and knitted teddies, Christmas decorations, headbands and so on. Friends also get busy with their sewing and knitting needles and others donate other tombola prizes such as toiletries. This lovely event gets us in the mood for Christmas with the huge array of crafts, food and gift stalls, carols, brass bands and other entertainment.”
Besides volunteering for Keeping Abreast, Jane volunteers with trainee doctors at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital. She says: “I feel privileged to be a patient volunteer for UEA medical students with the Norwich Medical School team at NNUH. This involves occasional attendance at breast teaching sessions for the students and I also volunteer to be a breast patient at practical exam sessions for several different medical student year groups. I thoroughly enjoy meeting these doctors of the future and giving them the chance to examine a real ‘patient’ rather than a plastic dummy, and to giving them an insight into breast reconstruction.”
So, what have been the highlights of volunteering over the years?
Jane confides: “Stand-out moments for me are modelling twice at the Keeping Abreast More Than Just Fashion Shows and at the second show I felt brave enough to wear a black basque, stockings and suspenders in front of an audience of hundreds. KA has certainly made me grow as a person and taken me out of my comfort zone. I’ve done local TV and radio interviews and given talks about KA and my own experience of breast cancer. Several years ago, about 50 ladies had their portraits taken for a Femininity Comes From Within exhibition and I was delighted to be included in this. Photographer Julia Holland took tasteful individual photos of us showing our reconstructions and the exhibition was taken to various places around the country including the Houses of Parliament.”
“My proudest and most memorable moments happen often when people I’ve supported tell me I’ve made such a difference to their experience at what can be a very challenging and emotional time in their lives. I love seeing the difference a couple of hours can make to patients who arrive at our meetings not quite knowing what to expect but leaving with huge smiles feeling that they can face reconstruction and come out the other side looking and feeling much the same as before – to the outside world anyway.”
Is there anything that Jane would change? She says: “I still love what I do and although I celebrated 15 years of post-breast cancer life this August, I do keep up to date with changes in reconstructive techniques, hospital practice etc, so I think my input is still valid. I’m very close to 70 now but it’s only the mirror and my birth certificate that tell me that, not my head!”

“I am thankful that I went for my mammogram and my cancer was caught early. I would love it if people reading this resolve to attend their mammograms when offered, indeed, to accept all checks offered, and for those too young to be called for testing to keep a close eye on themselves and seek help if they feel something isn’t quite right. Men need to check themselves too.”
www.keepingabreast.co.uk
KEEPING ABREAST SUPPORT 2024
Gorleston
Coffee, Cake & Natter Sessions
Louise Hamilton Centre, James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston-on-Sea, NR31 6LA
10am to midday, Thursday 10 October, 14 November and 12 December
Stalham Outreach Group
The Swan Pub, 90 High Street, Stalham, Norwich, NR12 9AU
11am to midday, Wednesday 23 October. December date tbc.
Norwich Support Group
Patteson Parish Rooms,
13 Newmarket Road, Cringleford, NR4 6UE
7.15pm to 9pm, Monday 7 October and Monday 2 December
More information on Facebook:
‘Keeping Abreast – Norwich Support Group’.
Wymondham Outreach
Star Throwers, 30 Melton Road, Wymondham, NR18 0DB
2pm to 4pm, Wednesday 23 October, 18 November and 11 December.
Pop in or stay for the full two hours.
All welcome!