Reflecting on Breast Cancer Awareness Month and planning for the unknown

I have been reminded by recent press and media stories that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it has made me stop and think again about how life changing it must be for the men and women who receive a diagnosis of breast cancer each year. Statistics suggest that nearly 60,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK, that’s the equivalent of one person every 10 minutes.

Knowing that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime and, that on average 12,000 people die each year from breast cancer, really does make you think that it is never too early to plan ahead.

Many of us are guilty for thinking that because we are still young and healthy we do not need to consider making a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney but, the truth is that none of us really know what lies ahead.

By preparing a Will we can ensure that our money and possessions pass to our loved ones, friends or to the charities which are close to our hearts. A Lasting Power of Attorney enables us to decide who we would want to step in and make decisions regarding our finances and health and welfare if there comes a time that we can no longer make these decisions for ourselves. After all, the harsh reality is none of us know what lies ahead for us and our families.