Support
and care
KATHERINE KUAN
visits a centre in Johore Baru where breast cancer patients can turn to
for support, encouragement and advice.
BREAST cancer!
When a woman has breast cancer, the first question that comes to mind is
揥hy me?? Shock,
fear, helplessness, depression and despair follow.
Whom should
she consult? What should she do and where can she turn to?
揗any are
reluctant to see the doctor and are scared of chemotherapy or
radiotherapy. They feel that it is the end of the world and many just want
to isolate themselves especially from friends. This is the time when
having supportive family and friends is of the utmost importance,? said
Doris Boo, a cancer survivor.
Doris Boo, 53,
is president of the Breast Cancer Support Group (BCSG) in Johore Baru.
Recently I had the privilege to meet Doris together with two other
members, Quek and Angie, at the BCSG centre.
Doris related
her encounter with breast cancer 10 years ago and how she got involved
with the support group.
揑t was shock
and fear and a whole spectrum of other emotions!? she recalled.
|
|
|
Doris
Boo: 慣o create awareness, we sometimes have exhibitions that show
ugly pictures of breast cancer in advanced stages, hopefully to
scare women into going for mammograms.? |
揥hen I was
undergoing treatment, people ? from friends to strangers ? were kind to
me. A friend came every weekend from Malacca, another makes
bird抯 nest soup
especially for me. Members of a support group, one of whom was a survivor
of 40 years, visited me after my surgery. That visit gave encouragement
not only to me, but also to my mum and sisters who were with me.?
Touched by
people抯 kindness and
support, Doris helped form the BCSG so that she could help and encourage
others in return.
The BCSGwas
formed in 2000 by a group of dedicated ladies with Joyce as president and
Doris as secretary. In 2002, Doris became the president. Currently there
are 160 members ? aged from 30 to 70 ? who are breast cancer patients,
survivors of breast cancer and their family members and friends who are
interested in helping. The committee members are all survivors, some of
whom are nurses, teachers and secretaries.
The support
group抯 objectives
are: to create awareness of breast health, to teach Breast
Self-Examination (BSE) and to provide emotional and psychological support
to patients, survivors and their families. The members regularly organise
talks and exhibitions on topics related to breast cancer.
Recently a
kind soul allowed a double-storey bungalow in Johore Baru to be utilised
by the BCSG for two years to run their activities. Doris excitedly showed
me around the centre.
The spacious
Activity Room on the ground floor is for meetings, tai chi, talks, line
dancing, Mandarin and English lessons and get-togethers. The talks (given
by doctors, nurses, psychiatrists or nutritionists) are usually well
attended.
Photos,
notices and a cupboard adorned with members? handicrafts denote the myriad
of activities carried out at BCSG. Pointing to the handicrafts on display,
Doris revealed, 揂 new member is
given an embroidered bag filled with prosthesis, a tin of Enercal drink
and some brochures to give her a measure of comfort.?
揕ine dancing is
very popular here,? said Quek as she excitedly demonstrated the latest
dance steps. 揓oin our
up-coming annual dinner and dance,? she cajoled.
揧es, come to
our popiah party tomorrow!? invited Angie, a volunteer nurse. 揌ere, members
bond and have fun with others of similar interests. It is
uplifting!?
I was taken on
a tour of three function rooms on the first floor. The Health Room is
equipped with a curtained-off bed, an exerciser and a mirror. Quek, a
retired nurse in charge of the room, gave a commentary on the facilities.
揟his is where
we talk and share problems with new patients privately,? she said,
pointing to the bed. 揙n
health-screening days, even non-members can do BSE here.
揟he long mirror
is for a patient to look at her profile and to correct her posture. The
exerciser, good for prevention of lymphodema, is for post-operative
patients to exercise their arms.?
The Craft
Room, with hanging lanterns made of ang pau envelopes and other exhibits,
clearly indicate members? interests in handicrafts ranging from patchwork,
beaded shoes and T-shirts, knitting to paper-folding and
flower-making.
揟he Music Room,
with the karaoke system, is very popular with the Mandarin-speaking
members,? informed Doris.
Over tea,
Doris elaborated on the support group. The BCSGgets its funds from
donations (like the Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga) or from self-help
programmes and fund-raising projects.
The group also
organises activities like health screening, awareness road shows, joint
exhibitions and social functions with support groups or organisations
throughout Malaysia and Singapore.
How often
should we do BSE, I enquired? 揂t least once a
month,? opined Doris. 揑n Malaysia,
one in seven gets breast cancer, affecting girls even as young as 18
years. To create awareness, we sometimes have exhibitions that show ugly
pictures of breast cancer in advanced stages, hopefully to scare women
into going for mammograms.?
Do husbands
have a role to play?
揙h, they are
very important, as most breast cancer is detected by the husband or the
patient,? said Doris, as we burst out laughing. 揇uring a
breast-cancer exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, it was the husbands who
encouraged their wives to be screened.?
Doris advises
newly-diagnosed patients not to be paralysed by fear and to go for
treatment.
揃e wary of
businessmen who take advantage of new vulnerable patients, by selling them
all sorts of products. Do not make sudden changes in your diets; just eat
in moderation!?
A retired
teacher, Doris is at the centre often.She finds her work rewarding for she
gets to meet people from all walks of life.
揟he experiences
that the survivors go through make me appreciate what I have. It has been
enriching working with people who give without asking. What moves me is a
sense of contentment and appreciation that I am still around,? she
disclosed.
The group has
adopted a motto: Reaching out. 揙ur aim is to
reach out to new patients, survivors and the public about the importance
of being aware of breast cancer and to show that we in BCSG embrace life
in hope and joy.
揥e want to let
people know that there is a place they can go to, a place to share, to
bond, to interact and to make new friends. And there are survivors to tell
them not to give up hope.?
· The Breast Cancer Support Group centre in Johore Baru is at No. 15, Jalan Rengas, Taman Melodies, Johor Baru. For enquiries, please contact Doris at 016-7730703 or e-mail http://us.f609.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=doris1304@hotmail.com or call Ms Tan at 07-3357211 (office), Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm.
