After graduating with a Masters and Higher Diploma in Education from Trinity College, Dublin, Jan’s career was in secondary education teaching biology and special educational needs. Jan was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 and again in 2005. It was during her initial treatment that Jan became interested in improving breast cancer services for patients and she also became involved in Breakthrough, which was then a new charity raising funds to establish a research centre. Jan is a founding member and President of the Isle of Man Breakthrough Group which has raised £1.5 million for Breakthrough over 20 years. Through Breakthrough, she became interested in campaigning and advocacy and she sat on the Campaigns and Advocacy Network Advisory Group for several years.
In the Isle of Man she has been actively involved in developing the island’s cancer strategy, having been a user representative on the Isle of Man Cancer Taskforce, the Cancer User Forum and the strategic multi-disciplinary team for breast cancer. Jan campaigned successfully for a breast screening service in 1997 for the Isle of Man and subsequently for a call/recall service in 2006. She represents breast cancer patients and Breakthrough on the Isle of Man Council of Cancer Charities. She has had an article published in the BMJ entitled The psychological effect of breast cancer – a patient’s perspective.
Jan was awarded an MBE for voluntary services to breast cancer in June 2007. She has been a trustee of Breakthrough since 2007.
“I feel it is a great privilege to be a Trustee of Breakthrough and it is very rewarding to be able to work with other highly motivated Trustees and staff in all aspects of the charity’s development.”
