Training “trainers” of Self Breast Examination at the Klang Young Women’s Christian  Association (YWCA)
Compiled by Dr Evelyn Ho
 

Preparing the tools for the training session

It was definitely a sacrifice as women of the YWCA as well as a few other participants from Petaling Jaya gave up a Sunday afternoon to learn the finer points of teaching others to perform Self Breast Examination (SBE) and motivate them to do SBE regularly! 

It started off with a quick introduction by Mrs June Yeoh, the NCWO Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Project Coordinator. All campaign materials as well as teaching breast models were given to the YWCA, Klang to provide them with the tools for their part in the BCAC initiative.
 

YWCA President, Mrs June Yeoh welcomes participants to the SBE Training Session

Radiology Malaysia editor, Dr Evelyn Ho began with some basic information about the human breast and its characteristics. Understanding the human breast was important if one is to understand the rationale, thereby ensuring easy retention of tips for the techniques of SBE. 

In addition to the techniques for SBE, Dr Ho highlighted the strengths of each teaching breast model and how this could be put to good use in helping the “student” remember how to and understand what needs to be done for effective SBE.
 

Dr Evelyn Ho gives tips on how to use the Teaching Breast Models

Finally, a practical session for using the breast models ensued. In addition, positioning is important when lying down to feel the breasts and a volunteer from the group helped to demonstrate this aspect. It was a bonus that one of the participants in the group was willing to show what accessory breasts in the axillary (armpit) area looked like. This was done in the privacy of an adjacent room. 

All were then treated to a tasty and satisfying tea after an afternoon of concentration. A thunderstorm and heavy downpour encouraged the group to exchange views and socialize until 5pm!
 

Look out for
details of the
2002 Subsidised Mammogram Programme

Since breast cancer afflicts women predominantly, what better day to launch the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2002, then, International Women's Day!