Shoulder to Cry On Helps

 Article reproduced from http://www.mmail.com.my/content/49585-shoulder-cry-helps

Breast cancer victims speak up on life after the shock
By NURUL HUDA JAMALUDDIN

KUALA LUMPUR: Taking advantage of medical benefits provided by her employer, just before she resigned to focus more on her two young children, the last thing Yong Lee Lee expected then was to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Recalling the shock she got about five years ago, she said doctors told her she had Stage 1 cancer, with a lump about 2cm in diameter.

To make things worse, the pathologist report said the lump was mainly cancerous and she needed chemotherapy.

As she was not satisfied with the result, she sought other opinions from a pathologist in Malaysia and an oncologist in Singapore.

"That period was really a nightmare for me. Every night, I couldn't sleep and I sometimes woke up my husband, too.

"Fortunately, the Singapore oncologist's report said the lump was only 1cm in diameter and the third opinion confirmed this diagnosis. That was a miracle because it meant I did not need to undergo chemotherapy."

Having received other medical treatment, Yong, now 46, has been cancer-free for almost five years and is looking forward to be told by doctors the cancer is in remission for her.

"I can't believe how lucky I was to have gone for the mammogram during the one-month resignation notice period back in 2005," she said.

Currently self-employed, Yong said the decision to resign then was made after she had a mild stroke - and described it as a wake-up call to reassess her priorities as her children were then aged six and four.

"Since I was blessed to have my cancer detected early and could afford the treatment, I feel the responsibility to give back to the community."

Yong is one of the four breast cancer survivors-cum-volunteers with PinkribbonR2R Sdn Bhd who shared their experiences with The Paper That Cares.

This organisation is holding a Pink Ribbon Ball next month, where the proceeds will be used to sponsor 100 delegates to the 16th UICC Breast Cancer Support Conference in Taiwan in November next year.

Yong, together with the other three survivors, all used to be patients of the organisation's chairman, Dr Devanand, and described the organisation as a good support group which helped make their personal "hell" experiences bearable.

Susan Leong, 51, was diagnosed two years ago with early stage cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is 99 per cent curable.

"Still being single, the first year was an emotional roller coaster ride. Some days, I was very happy and on some days, I would be depressed. I also didn't feel like telling people about my ailment because of the stigma against breast cancer patients."

After she joined PinkRibbon R2R, she attending the 15th UICC Breast Cancer Support Conference in Brisbane, Australia in May last year and described the experience as God-sent.

"It really helped us participants to realise there is still life after cancer and it taught us to find new normal lives. It is important to be empowered and educated with knowledge of the disease.

"It also helps to have some kind of support system, even though I was a case of self-help, healing myself to recover emotionally," said the jovial entrepreneur in the food and beverage industry.

For survivor Mimi Wong Gian, 58, positive thinking helped keep her head up when she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer with 0.55mm lump after a mammogram and annual check-up.

"I felt my world crumbling down. I was in grief for a while but my husband and siblings gave me the emotional support. More importantly, I knew I had to remain positive."

Wong added that she did not tell her then 20-year-old son as he was having exams at that time. "I didn't want him to be distressed."

Because she had a family history of the disease - her mother died of breast cancer - Wong said she was aware of the risk of contracting the disease.

"I was still surprised by the diagnosis because I was cautious with my health, knowing I am cancer-prone due to the genetic link. I exercised regularly and always watched my diet. Thank God, the cancer was detected early."

As for Shirley Chong, 55, her awareness of the disease - as she had family members who were cancer patients - made her insist on getting a second opinion when at first the doctor told her the strange thing in her breast was a water lump.

"After they took out the 'water lump', and when the doctor told me there was bad news, I knew already I had cancer.

"I was worried sick then thinking of my three children's future," the kindergarten owner said, adding that she was now close to being cancer-free for five years and hoped to be in the safe zone.

All four are full-time volunteers now with PinkRibon R2R, acting as advocates of early cancer detection and helping raise awareness of the disease.

PinkRibbon going nationwide to raise awareness

KUALA LUMPUR: PinkRibbon R2R Sdn Bhd is looking at expanding the scope of its support services nationwide in educating the public and raising awareness of breast cancer.

Its chairman Dr M. Devanand, who is a consultant breast surgeon, said the focus would be on selecting five cancer survivors of mixed races from every State, who will then be hopefully number 100 to be delegates at the Reach to Recovery International's 16th UICC Breast Cancer Support Conference from Nov 10 to 12 next year.

"Previously, our delegates were mostly from the Klang Valley. By going nationwide, we are going one step further so more people should be educated about breast cancer.

"Applicants will be interviewed to make sure the candidates are committed to give back to the community later what they had learnt through lateral counselling and talks. We hope they can perhaps spearhead their own support group, become our agents too.

"We will then act as the parent body to find a common basis for the education and adoption of more people to become educationists on awareness and later prevention of breast cancer, besides helping them live fruitful lives.”

Dr Devanand said all delegates will be fully sponsored to the conference, expected to cost RM3,000 each and amounting to RM300,000 for all 100 delegates.

This cost will be funded by proceeds from a fundraising dinner, ‘A Pink Ribbon Ball’, to be held on Oct 2 at Grand Dorsett Hotel in Subang Jaya.

Dr Devanand said they have sold about 60 per cent of the tables.

He added PinkRibbon R2R has to register its delegates by March next year, adding the funds collected will also be used to finance the organisation's activities such as the PinkRibbon R2R Wellness Camp to be held between Oct 29 and 31 at Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resort.

"We are hoping to raise enough money to bring 100 cancer survivors to the international forum, which will enrich them with knowledge and provide them with the opportunity to meet people facing similar or worse experiences with breast cancer.

"In turn, they will appreciate the disease more and even have the liberty to discuss taboo subject like sex and breast reconstruction. Then, they’ll realise a lot of things are possible."

About PinkRibbon R2R

FORMED in December 2008, the fully volunteer-based organisation’s pilot project was a charity drive to fund 29 breast cancer survivors to the 15th UICC Breast Cancer Support Conference in Brisbane, Australia in May last year.

The body was set up as part of Reach to Recovery 2009 project, to educate and raise awareness on breast cancer – and operates as a non-profit entity, despite having been incorporated as a private company earlier just to meet the 2009 conference deadline.

PinkRibbon R2R Sdn Bhd chairman Dr M. Devanand said education was the key for early detection, as it could then save lives as well as ensuring empowerment and information. Breast cancer survivors are also roped in as a support group and to educate women on the issues of breast health care.

He explained the initiative was made after realising the limited reach of activities conducted during the breast cancer month in October.

"It resulted in almost no progress. I realised we were not doing enough as in the US, where campaigns are done throughout the year. In Hong Kong, for example, the average size of lumps when first detected had been reduced from 4.2cm in diameter to 2.2 cm because of the continuous awareness campaign run over 10 years.

"So, I decided to organise a breast cancer support group which is comprised and managed by cancer survivors," he said, adding survivors have more passion on the matter as they too had undergone the painful journey.

"In Malaysia and even in 14 Asian countries, 40 per cent of patients are diagnosed at the advanced stage, with the average tumour size of 4.2cm while in the US, four per cent are diagnosed at the same advanced stage. Most detections in the US now are made with 1.2cm being the average tumor size.

“It is also more economical to treat breast cancer with early detection, as the medical costs can go up by at least five-fold at the advanced stage.”

The body conducts roadshows throughout the country – especially in rural areas like Sabak Bernam and Sekinchan – giving educational talks, free booklets and brochures, providing information on breast cancer, breast examination, teaching self breast-examination and bringing along cancer survivors for inspiration with their testimonies.

"For us, making more people aware of how they can detect possible breast cancer and making them amiable to treatment and submitting themselves to surgery and chemotheraphy after being advised and understanding the disease better is good enough for now."

More information on this body can be found at www.pinkribbonr2r.my.