Person    | Female  Born 19/2/1919  Died 18/12/2000

Betty Westgate

Categories: Medicine

Health campaigner. When diagnosed with breast cancer, she was dismayed at the lack of information and support for sufferers of the disease. This led her to found the charity which was to become Breast Cancer Care. In the 1970s, before breast reconstruction became widespread, post-operative women were advised to stuff handkerchiefs, cotton wool, or even tights into their bras. This spurred her to design the 'Cumfie', which was soft, washable and spin-dryable.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Betty Westgate

Commemorated ati

Betty Westgate

Betty Westgate MBE, 1919 - 2000, a pioneer and campaigner for breast cancer s...

Read More

Other Subjects

Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice

Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice

From their website, 2024: "Having secured statutory public inquiries in the UK and Scotland, we are now seeking to secure devolved inquiries in Wales and Northern Ireland. We are campaigning to ens...

Group, History, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Medical Society of London

Medical Society of London

Founded by Dr Lettsom. Originally based in the City, the Medical Society moved to its present house, Lettsom House, 11 Chandos Street, in 1873.

Group, Community / Clubs, Medicine

2 memorials
William Crawford Gorgas

William Crawford Gorgas

Born Mobile, Alabama. Worked in the medical department of the US army and specialised in yellow fever. Died in London from a stroke while on his way to West Africa.

Person, Armed Forces, Medicine, USA

1 memorial
Sir Morell MacKenzie

Sir Morell MacKenzie

Surgeon. Founded the world's first hospital for diseases of the throat. Our picture source from Wikipedia gives a full résumé of the life of Sir Morell Mackenzie. He is buried in St Mary's Church...

Person, Medicine, Austria, France, Germany, Hungary

1 memorial
Dr. Joseph T Clover

Dr. Joseph T Clover

Anaesthetist. Born in Aylsham, Norfolk. Buried in Brompton Cemetery. He devised apparatus for the administration of chloroform and for the use of nitrous oxide and ether and was recognised by h...

Person, Medicine

1 memorial