Our Stories
Helen Margaret Muscat

M.Q.R. Co-Founder
(14th April 1956 – 19th October 2013)
Helen was the cofounder and first Chairperson of the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation. Being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 did not stop her from taking an active role to better the services and care offered to breast cancer patients. Remembered as an inspirational campaigner through her support of others, she drew upon her experience to help and encourage these patients to live a normal life the best way possible. She was married to Dr. Peter Muscat and together they had two sons, Stephen and Paul.
Helen’s career in healthcare spanned over 40 years. She qualified as a state registered nurse and went on to specialise in palliative care and breast care nursing. She worked in surgery and was appointed to the post of Ward Sister at the Kingston General Hospital (Hull) in the United Kingdom.
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In Malta she helped in the setting up of the Malta Hospice Movement. She later set up the Breast Care Support Group and, during her term as President, she developed the annual Hilda Schembri Memorial lectures. Later, she moved into developing a rehabilitation service for the elderly. She spent eight years as Hospital Matron at the Zammit Clapp Hospital and also served as Matron of another two private hospitals. She also served on several committees, including the Monitoring for Breast Screening Committee and the National Advisory Committee on Breast Screening. She contributed to the educational sector through her lectures in the Gerontology Department at the University of Malta through induction seminars for nurses and volunteers at several hospitals.
Helen was awarded the Medalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika by His Excellency Dr. George Abela President of the Republic of Malta on the 13 December 2012. She died on Saturday, 19 October 2013, during breast awareness month, leaving behind a legacy of improved breast cancer treatment and care and the introduction of the first community funded breast cancer PhD at the University of Malta.
Her Way – Helen’s Inspiration to Life
The book ‘Her Way – Helen’s Inspiration to Life’, written by Ingrid Zerafa for the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation is now available in bookshops. Proceeds from sales will go to the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation.
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Esther Sant
Chairperson & Co-Founder
As my fourteenth wedding anniversary approached and the world was gearing up for the millennium celebrations all my energy was focused on my family: my beautiful three boys, the youngest only just turned one, and my husband. I was 36 years old, I was healthy, I had no cause to turn my thoughts to cancer. When I first felt a bump in my left breast, I brushed it off. I took my time before consulting a doctor. I was sure this could not happen to me. I went straight into denial. The doctor sent me for a mammogram. A lengthy report followed which brought unwelcome words into my life: DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), nodes, stages and grades. I underwent painful biopsies. Three weeks later, my histopathology results came. It was bad news. I fell even deeper into denial, followed by the constant questioning “Why me?” I felt that I was being singled out and punished. At the surgeon’s office, I was devastated to learn that I had to undergo a mastectomy. Five months, six cycles of chemo and twenty sessions of radiotherapy later, I had become quite used to wearing my breast prostheses. Unfortunately, more surgery and more treatment followed in 2004 and 2007 when the cancer recurred.
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As rough and horrible my breast cancer experience was, it was also life changing. I researched cancer, referred myself to Hospice Malta, attended a support group and befriended other women going through the same thing. Then I met Helen Muscat, a seasoned health care professional and qualified breast care nurse, later herself a breast cancer patient, who became my confidante, lifeline and mentor. She inspired me to do something to improve the services on offer and, in 2007, we founded the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation. Our first challenge was the breast prosthesis service. The product offered for free was an insult to women’s dignity. We launched an advocacy campaign and the service was eventually transferred to the breast clinic. Another major lobbying campaign was a campaign to provide the drug Herceptin (HER2) for free. We marched in St Julians’ and Valletta chanting “give her life, give HER2”.
Helen and I became very close. We talked at great length about our inner fears, our embarrassments and our sexuality. Helen’s parting shot to me was always, “Esther, we have to move on and never look back”. I was overjoyed when she was honoured with the Medalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika on Republic Day of 2012. She left us on 19 October 2013. No words can express the loss and devastation I felt. I kept asking myself: “Why did she die? Why am I the lucky one?” To keep her spirit with us we published a book we called “HER WAY”. It has been almost five years now since she left us. The Action for Breast Cancer Foundation now offers psychological support to breast cancer patients. We continue to offer mastectomy brassieres and we provide each breast cancer patient with information their cancer journey. More ambitious projects are envisaged as we continue to work on prevention and raising awareness. Today, I have reached the grand age of 54 and it has been 18 years since my diagnosis. I am amazed at how much I have learned and experienced since the turn of the millenium and I am forever grateful for my timely encounter with Helen. Sometimes, what we believe is our worst trial turns out to be exactly what we needed to become wiser and, ultimately, stronger!
Betty Hanley Lee
Committee Member
I came to live in Malta in 1988, having had a career in Ireland working in the Cardiac and Pulmonary Unit of the Mater Hospital in Dublin. I have one daughter and 4 lovely grandchildren and one who is now an angel. I had breast cancer in 2005 and knew no one on the island with breast cancer. I wrote an article about my cancer for Pink Magazine 3 months after diagnosis which changed my life for the better. After that publication, I got a weekly slot about health issues on a programme called Flimkien with Hermann Bonaci and Frida Cauchi. I was then interviewed by Clare Agius on her tv programme where once again I emphasised what a lonely and frightening road it was to not know anyone on the island with my same diagnosis. Around that time I was contacted by a company in Germany who manufacture prosthesis and I was offered the opportunity to train as a mastectomy fitter. With Dr Frank Portelli’s help, I set up my base at St Philips Hospital where I could meet other breast cancer survivors and offer a once stop shop for all their needs. It was then that I met Esther Sant and Helen Muscat who were launching Action for Breast Cancer Foundation and I became a member on day one.
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I have now retired, having worked at the Holy Family Home in Naxxar, at St James Hospital, Sliema and as a Coordinator of BioValley at Burmarrad. I’m now a volunteer for the National Cancer Platform at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC) where I can still meet breast cancer patients and I will be a volunteer with the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation.
Ruth Guillaumier
Committee Member

2022 …42 years old, mothering 5-year-old twin boys and another 6-year-old son largely single-handedly following marital separation just months earlier. We were on our first-ever holiday in Gozo, enjoying ourselves following painful marital breakdown. Towards the end of the holiday, just before putting the boys to sleep, my hand incidentally brushed against a big lump in the inner part of my breast….my heart missed a beat. I immediately realised something was wrong. I told the kids about it as they are my closest relatives, in spite of their very tender age. I couldn’t sleep at all. The first thing I did the following morning was a call to schedule an appointment privately for an ultrasound, which was immediately followed by a biopsy and consequently the most-dreaded result. It was indeed breast cancer which needed to be removed through a mastectomy. I was completely unfamiliar with cancer at the time since I have no family history whatsoever, and utterly scared of it all. Also, I did not want to disclose my diagnosis with anyone. I was devastated, and utterly disappointed with life!

What followed was an MRI, which showed spread to a lymph node. This required another biopsy and further scans to check for spread in other parts of the body. Meanwhile, I tried as best I could to maintain normality at home for the kids, even though I was incredibly stressed. I lost a lot of weight. A single mastectomy ensued, which meant I ended up completely flat on one side. Needless to say, this sudden altered body image affected my self-confidence to a huge extent. And intensive psychotherapy was necessary to address the situation. I found most precious support from all the healthcare professionals, both at the Breast Clinic at Mater Dei Hospital and from all who I met at Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre. Family members were there too to provide the necessary support so I could keep going in the circumstances.

During this time, my breast care nurse suggested I contact one of the local NGOs supporting breast cancer patients. And I arbitrarily messaged Esther Sant, chairperson and co-founder of Action for Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF). She prepared me psychologically for my surgery, and later on, for adjuvant chemotherapy. She accompanied me to shave my hair off on New Year’s Eve ahead of starting chemo on 2nd January, and we shopped around for the most natural wig during the Christmas period. Esther even took the initiative to support me ahead of my eldest’s First Holy Communion scheduled five months later. This ensured I looked good enough for the occasion in spite of the ordeal I was going through.

I look back at my ‘chemotherapy months’ and smile. Most unexpectedly, I was never sick. I got on with life, albeit feeling lethargic at times. I was still there for my kids in their needs. SAMOC healthcare professionals became my ‘friends’ and I could feel the love and care I so desperately required. Esther and myself would go out for afternoon tea on a Saturday during the time, making sure I was dolled up. That was when she started me getting involved in Foundation work. It felt so good. Cancer didn’t feel a negative experience anymore. It became a positive experience from which I learnt so much!

2025 …At present, I’m very much involved in the Foundation activities and love supporting patients who approach me upon diagnosis. I try to be of support in the best way possible. This fills my heart with so much joy that I find impossible to explain. As opposed to how it all started, I’m proud to recount my story and how I managed to turn a most negative situation into a most positive one. I’m happy to be so alive and living to the full like never before! It is also worth noting how I managed to combine cancer with my area of specialisation at work, thus bringing my interests together for added ‘fun’! I’m proud of myself to have learnt how to seek opportunities for personal growth and development from negative life experiences. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade…..

If I could give one useful piece of advice, I would encourage patients to actively listen to what their healthcare professionals have to say about their specific situation, as they would know best. Additionally, in this highly technological age, it is of paramount importance to always seek the truth by consulting reputable sources.

Ruth with kids
Ruth full length
Help us ease the journey of breast cancer patients – Action for Breast Cancer Foundation VO/0058