Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Support Group - Fundraising campaign

Understand more about our Go Green! Go Glass! Cancer Awareness Campaign 2014. RM10 will be donated to Pink Ribbon Cancer Support Group for each water bottle sold! However, some people might wonder, where does their donation goes to? What is Pink Ribbon Cancer Support Group for? How can my little donation help? Hopefully you can have a rough idea after reading the information below. Thank you! INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT Psychosocial or emotional support aims to improve the quality of life for women diagnosed with  breast cancer as well as their family members and it is a powerful platform for coping with life  during diagnosis, treatment and beyond. The Patient Support Team consists of breast cancer survivors who undergo training and on-going supervision in offering psychosocial or emotional support for women diagnosed with breast cancer  and their families. Support is given through face to face sessions, phone calls and electronically. These support programmes help individuals with breast cancer and their loved ones to cope with life during and after diagnosis and treatment. The Patient Support Team members visit newly diagnosed individuals in government and private  hospitals regularly in the initial stages of their treatment, providing them and their family members support to help them cope emotionally, psychologically and physically through their  diagnosis, treatment and recovery. On the first visit, each newly diagnosed person is given a comfy kit, consisting of a bag, a  temporary prosthesis (if needed), a stress ball, a scarf and a arm rest pillow. GROUP PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT Therapeutic, social and emotional support activities are organised to help women with breast  cancer to deal with their treatment and recovery, and eventually, to take control of their lives  again. In these sessions, irrespective of educational, ethnic or social background, women with breast  cancer are able to benefit from mutual support, fellowship and information on managing  themselves. The Patient Support Team volunteers offer one-to-one informal educational sessions to help  newly diagnosed women and their family members to understand and gain knowledge about  what to expect during treatment and beyond. The sessions provide privacy and freedom for  them to express their concerns and to ask questions on coping and managing themselves through their breast cancer experience and making lifestyle choices. The common issues discussed at these sessions are: Fear of treatment; Concerns regarding uncertainty in life; Breast reconstruction; Dietary issues; Complementary therapies; Alternative treatment; Self and public image; Employment concerns; Financial constraints; Dealing with social stigma, prejudice and discrimination related to breast cancer; Logistical issues; and, Communication with children. Group Sharing Sessions Group psychosocial support programmes are a way to provide therapeutic, social and emotional support to help women with breast cancer and family members to deal with the impact of disease and treatment enabling women to regain control of their lives. These activities conducted in a safe environment reach out to women with breast cancer irrespective of their educational, ethnic or social backgrounds and enable them to benefit from the mutual support, fellowship, experience and the sharing of information in an informal way. The Patient Support Team members facilitate the sessions to ensure the participants are not misled into biased information. They are also available to attend to queries and to support women through their fears and concerns regarding mortality, suffering, dietary concerns and lifestyle adjustment. PROSTHESIS (artificial breast) Pink Ribbon Cancer Support Group makes available temporary prostheses and mastectomy bras for women who have had mastectomy (removal of the breast). The prosthesis that is inserted into the bra on a temporary basis is designed to maintain the external appearance of the breast and to give a boost of self-esteem to the woman. Feather-light weight and softness of the temporary prosthesis facilitates comfort and ease especially when the surgical wound is still sore due to surgery and during or after radiotherapy. However, the temporary prosthesis is not ideal for long-term use as it is too light to maintain body posture and it can cause postural and back problems in the long term. These prostheses are designed and stitched by the members who are mostly breast cancer survivors. They also provide training to enable other breast cancer support groups to sew their own prostheses. Pink Ribbon Cancer Support Group staff offers advice on the modification of pre-existing bras and the fitting of prosthesis and bra. While the temporary prostheses are given free, the mastectomy bra are sold at affordable prices and offered for free to the needy. HAIR SHAVING and WIG STYLING Women with breast cancer who undergo chemotherapy may lose their hair temporarily due to the side effects of the treatment. To ease the burden of additional expenses for these women, hair shaving and styling of wigs by professional hairstylist and loan of wigs are given to them at no cost. Pink Ribbon Cancer Support Group staff members are available to assist them to find the most appropriate wig to suit them. Once the suitable wig is chosen, the staff members will bring the women with breast cancer to our professional hairstylist for hair shaving and wig styling so that the wig will look natural. Advice on maintenance of the wigs is also given. Women walk away wearing a wig, feeling relived and looking good. Due to wear and tear, the wigs are regularly replenished to ensure that they are in good condition when given to the women. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS The extensive, on-going public education and awareness programmes conducted by Pink  Ribbon Cancer Support Group  aims to change public perception, attitude, behaviour and  action concerning breast health. The message cannot be emphasized enough, that early detection and timely medical treatment  of breast cancer are crucial in increasing the chances of preventing premature deaths.  The support group continues to hold exhibitions, talks and workshops that are conducted in different languages to educate the public on breast health awareness. Specific topics are covered during these public educational and awareness programmes  such as:- - Methods of early detection of breast cancer including mammogram, clinical breast  examination and breast self-examination; - Benefits of early detection and time medical treatment including testimonies given by breast  cancer survivors;- Adopting an energy-balanced lifestyle at a young age to prevent  non-communicable diseases including cancers.  This support group will need funding to maintain their services for all year round.  All breast cancer survivors in the hospital will be receiving a goodies bag which includes  prosthesis, arm rest pillow, stress ball and a scarf for free. In every October, during the  Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all these goodies bags will be distributed to all general hospitals in Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and Sibu, Sarawak. Do not be little to your small sum of donation and never  get tired of doing little things for others, sometimes those  little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts!

"Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. - Howard Zinn"