In this report I would like to share with you the knowledge and information I gathered from the conference. Thus the skills that were mutually discussed, we can apply to our organisation ABCF to be able evolve to the needs of the today’s breast cancer patients.
Ranjit Kaur , a Malaysian past president of RRI and a breast cancer survivor since 1998, she referred to the whole array of implications on the individual and the family when faced by breast cancer. The diagnose itself effect the husbands that seems to suffer lack of communication skills and support towards their partners when witnessing this trauma. It’s also evident that although they may seek professional help the sense of isolation is a barrier they find so hard to crack. They tell their spouse not to cry and in return they themselves go and cry alone. Hence they literally escape situations of being alone with their partners because they find it difficult to share their anxiety. Treating the whole person’s different aspects of treatment by planning, communication with healthcare providers, addressing stage of grief – psychological support for the whole family and symptom management will give the family a sense of personal control. We find out that sometimes the doctor’s mind set is different from that of the patients’. Cancer is more than a biological disease it opens up Pandora’s box and the fear will stay with you for ever causing uncertainty.
Ann Steyn, the current president of RRI from South Africa, a breast cancer survivor since 1990 and Beverly Bird – Breast Cancer Network Australia-Online social media – peer support and information sharing resource for individuals and groups. Both speakers covered the need of offering peer support and the importance of building networks with similar organisations can help solve common problems. The use of websites through social media and having the right information accessible to those effected by breast cancer with the facility where they can set up their own profile and personal blogs to keep record of their breast cancer journey. There are 28,000,000 breast cancer survivors around the world and they all have their story to be told through internet/blogs. Therefore user-centric websites are important and definitely the way forward. Links can be made with other groups seeding hopes and haring resources.
Vanessa Mong’s testimony of being a medical doctor herself coming from a poor family, lost her mother at 12 years and also lost her best friend in an unfortunate drowning accident. She went through a phase of depression. With the help of her father that noticed the expressions of emotional isolation she pulled out bravely from this situation only to find another round the corner as a heart problem was diagnosed. Dr Mong had to undergo an angiogram. At the height of her career breast cancer struck and she went through phases of denial and self- pity, treatment and recovery. It was a very difficult period for her where she required many sessions of psychological counselling. Today she fights these illnesses to continue living her life and believes she has a better perspective towards life more than ever. These three setbacks were impossible obstacles that transformed her into a free spirited woman sharing her experiences with others in the light of helping them transform their lives for the better. Another Psychologist Dr Frances Ma also presented her paper with the key message of how she had to resort to counselling in order to seek help when breast cancer shook her life. She was leading a career as a psychologist in Boston USA and she felt distraught and having huge denial problems knowing she was now the patient, sitting on the opposite chair, a position she never nurtured before. Sexuality was covered by Leonie Young from Australia, diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. She addressed this issue as still a taboo and most often health professionals and their patients often disregard the subject, dismissing it as trivial and unimportant at the time. However most women diagnosed with breast cancer that suffer intimacy and sexuality issues say that they not only want to find solutions for themselves but also for their partners for whom they often experience enormous guilt about the impact the treatment had left on them. Referring to sexuality after breast cancer with compassion and humour she addressed the issues mostly reported by breast cancer patients and their partners saying that although there’s no magic theory to dealing with these problems she explains that spending quality time with each other and understanding one another’s needs will help couples meet each other half way. Various ways of bonding were discussed as an alternative way to help couples being fulfilled. Spending time with your each other and doing things you both enjoy such as going for a coffee, a dinner date or walks together can help one relax, creating a healthy and understanding ambience.
Andy Miller of Lance Armstrong Foundation highlighted the pilot project campaign in South Africa and Mexico where it showed that 50% of the new cancer cases and ? of cancer deaths occur in low income of developing world. Unfortunately incidence is on the increase too and the stigma associated with cancer often acts as barrier to treatment and can lead to increased mortality. Stigma origins mainly from misinformation, lack of awareness and deeply engrained cultural myths of fear. Action for Breast Cancer Foundation’s contribution in the lunch symposium through the beverage recipe of the lemon and extra virgin olive oil was very well acknowledged by numerous delegates and the Taiwanese kitchen. I was the only presenter to do a demonstration and therefore they could also sample. Press agents also came and did an interview where I gave information and notes to help them understand the concept of using natural ingredients that are around us that can contribute in keeping healthy.
There were different organisations coming from same countries which remind me how much we have to work together on the local scene, namely with the support group. On events such as representing in conferences abroad a unified voice is essential, enabling our organisation to be resourceful and having the breast cancer patient at its heart all the more. I trust that in time we will come closer to work together in a mature way. Our foundation, ABCF is passionate in addressing the goals we want to achieve, being the much needed accredited breast unit at Mater Dei Hospital. I’m sure that our community spirit will drive us towards achieving this goal.
Next Reach for Recovery International is going to be held in South Africa on the 20-22nd March 2013. It would be interesting if we can explore the idea of going as a group to this event, not only as spectators but also as presenting and sharing our abstracts.
I close with this positive note I learnt and will keep carrying with me,
‘Cancer comes no more while I sleep in the night, because I bring it under the daylight to enjoy the beauty and wonder of life’ (Yu-Pei Ma www.youngsurvival.org)
The 16th Reach to Recovery International, Taipei was made possible by a grant of 1500USD from RRI and Novartis.