| The participants of the workshop with Dr Evelyn Ho at the end of a long and exhausting day |
Getting MESRA with the Art of Being Breast Health Aware – 19 Feb 2005 The first workshop of the year kicked off in Johnson & Johnson’s Seminar Room packed with many volunteers and members of Malacca’s Breast Cancer Support Group and 4 participants from Puteri Specialist Hospital, Johor Bahru. There was a gentleman in the midst of all the 37 ladies.
Amongst the ladies from all walks of life, were of course, breast cancer survivors. The whole afternoon was spent on getting to know the breast anatomy and physiology, how to perform proper self breast examination and how to teach it. The participants were updated with the diagnostic techniques and the availability of these techniques in Malaysia.
To make good their trip from Malacca, earlier in the day, MESRA members (the name of the Malacca Breast Cancer Support Group) were introduced to the various breast prostheses and garments used after mastectomy or lumpectomies. This took place with the assistance of Medisia Sdn Bhd and the National Cancer Society. 
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| During hands on session with the teaching models | Dr Evelyn Ho with a participant on the proper technique to feel the breast while lying down |
The afternoon workshop was conducted by Dr Evelyn Ho and assisted by Lynn Leong, Azizah Wayat from the Breast Cancer Welfare Association, Mrs June Yeoh from the National Council of Women’s Organisations and Rosa Ho from Johnson & Johnson.
All in all, it was a lively session with some hands-on practice. In the evaluation of the workshop, the understanding of breast health and self breast examination had dramatically improved in all of the participants. 3% found the session to be too short and close to 90% felt they were ready to start spreading the message on breast health awareness and teaching self breast examination.
What the participants had to say about the workshop:
- The Hands on Session was the best feature – or in fact everything!
- Thorough explanation, answered our questions and there were rewards
- Honest, direct and cheerful presentation (explaining self breast examination) |
