The Bombshells Go Under The Microscope!

There was a lot going on at our June meeting, held as usual at St Johns Church Hall, our president Sandra commenced with a welcome to members and guests and announced the month's notices.

Sandra proudly presents our donation to Sue

She then introduced a special guest, Sue Sheppard from Horsham Matters. The Bombshells have had a close relationship with Horsham Matters ever since their ‘Tintastic’ campaign last year where we collected tins of food for the food bank that they run. Ever since we have collected items to donate to the food bank at every one of our meetings. Sue gave us a short explanation about the charity, its aims and the areas it covers for the residents of Horsham in need of a helping hand.

The Bombshells had been given particular permission to make a donation to charity from funds raised by the group, so it was with great pride and pleasure that a cheque was given to Horsham Matters for £500. In addition to the presentation of the cheque, our donation table this month reached a fantastic 55.7kg, which would be enough for a family for five days. Thank you so very much ladies.

Yvonne presenting 'Under The Microscope'

Our speaker for the evening was Yvonne Price, a former Biochemist (and WI stalwart) she has worked in this area for her entire career starting after A levels. Yvonne spoke to us on the subject of Pathology. Not, as she said, the pathology of the tv dramas, which inevitably involves slicing open cadavers, but the far more common and vital branch of hospital analysis.  Amazingly, pathology underpins 70% of all the diagnoses and treatments in the medical world with the doctor basing his or her assessment of problems and diseases before recommending treatment based on the results of a specimen of blood, urine or tissue.

When Yvonne began her career in the

1960s, there was far less automation. Very often it involved a pathology technician and a microscope, now Pathology is the largest single area of a hospital with rooms full of huge machines that can process so many more specimens in so much less time. The job has changed and evolved through many iterations, but it is the eye of the trained technician that is at the heart of it all.

Yvonne endeavoured to give us an insight into what happens to your sample when you've had a blood test, biopsy, urine sample - or any other bodily secretion for that matter. Where does your sample go? What processes does it go through? How is it analysed and how does it finally offer up a diagnosis and future treatment?

Regarding tissue samples, Yvonne described to us the surprisingly long and complex process of preparing a sample for analysis. Firstly it is fixed with formalin, before being washed clean with alcohol to halt decomposition, it is then embedded in wax, which is also then dissolved before sections a few microns thick are taken and the sample stained and mounted.  This whole process can take a day or two, and it is only then that the cells can be examined under a microscope. 

Tissue can be removed from a patient for examination for a number of reasons, Yvonne particularly highlighted the importance of checking the margins around where something had been excised to confirm that all the suspicious matter had been removed, otherwise further surgery would be needed.

Once these samples have been examined they can be safely be stored for a long time and can be re-examined if necessary, or used for education and research. This is a resource which is incredibly valuable but the proper storage also needs a great deal of space, appropriate temperature control and accurate documentation.

We finished with a question and answer session, before Sandra proposed a vote of thanks to Yvonne for such a fascinating and informative talk. Despite being a little icky at times, we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

And now onto the rest of June's highlights. And we have had another busy month here at the BBH Bombshells WI.

Lots of us enjoyed a relaxed and fun evening playing Petanque which was kindly arranged for us at the club in Cranleigh.  Not only did they host us, but also taught us the rules and refereed the matches, (very necessary!)  After the first match, teams were rearranged and we were all able to play a second bout during the cool of the long summer evening. Some of us took advantage of the club house bar and enjoyed an evening tipple! Our thanks go to the club and to Sandy who organised it for us.

Our wonderful social secretary, Lorena had arranged yet another an afternoon meeting for coffee at Strawberry Fields at Newhouse Farm. Lots of members were able to attend, and sat inside but downstairs where it was the coolest place for a lovely afternoon chatting about a myriad of subjects. Thank you Lorena for organising it.

Just a quick reminder for everyone that we will be at the Broadbridge Heath Village Fete once again this year, selling you delicious homemade (mostly) cakes and bakes for you to eat there or take away with you to enjoy later. The Fete is on the Ducky at 2pm, Saturday 5th July, please come and say hello!