Don's diary

Wednesday

I found out that my mother had breast cancer by overhearing a conversation between a relative and a neighbour. I was nine. She had a mastectomy and I became used to seeing her prostheses (cone-shaped pieces of foam) drying in the airing cupboard. She developed another primary growth and died two days before my wedding 15 years later. I knew that I did not have the ability to do anything about the disease, but as I grew up I decided that perhaps I could improve on the "little piece of foam".

This week is breast cancer awareness week and today is my second day of employment with the university. Stress levels and gin consumption are both on the increase. Four months of planning for a seminar on "rehabilitation following mastectomy" was nearly destroyed when I found out yesterday the room had not been booked. "Never mind," I said, "these things happen" (or words to that effect).

Arrive at university and spend most of the day contacting speakers and delegates. The aim of the seminar is to raise awareness about the surgical and prosthetic choices available to women who have lost their breasts to cancer.

Pick up children, take dog out, food shop.

It is 7pm and still have to discuss fall of the Roman Empire with 12-year-old, test ten-year-old on eight times table, go over structure and function of the heart with eight-year-old, make dinner, have scintillating conversation with partner and then iron.

Thursday

I am to speak at the seminar on the "incidence and prevalence of breast cancer" and "patient choice". Spend the day writing speeches. Difficult not to get political about lack of funding.

Evening: rehearsals of Pirates of Penzance.

Friday

Letter from Salford University to say they have received our bid to the NHS research and development fund. When a woman has breast reconstruction, the surgeon creates a mound on the chest wall. The mound only becomes a breast with the addition of a nipple. Only a woman who has had reconstructive surgery will tell you how important that is. The grant money will fund a three-year study to look at the psychological effects of surgical versus prosthetic rehabilitation of the nipple.

The board that decides whether we get funding sits on October .

Monday

Do eight times table with ten- year-old on the way to school. I get two wrong. University computer has a bug. Do a weekend's work this morning. Have slides made in an attempt to make incidence figures more interesting. Start to get nervous about Wednesday (seminar day). Marketing department says TV may be there. How can I lose two stone in two days?

Tuesday

Day before seminar. Last night had dream no one came. Check seminar room, seating in place, projectors ready for action, confirm final figures and pick up slides. This time tomorrow it will all be over and healthcare professionals will (I hope) be all the wiser as a result.

Jane McPhail Maxillofacial prosthetist and researcher in body prosthetics, Manchester Metropolitan University.