Program Nur: Reach To Recovery 2006 Training Workshop for Volunteer Breast Cancer Survivors, Petaling Jaya –  17 to 19 Mar 2006
By Dr Evelyn Ho 

There were 30 participants in the first of the 2006 Training Workshops for Volunteer Breast Cancer Survivors held in Petaling Jaya Hilton Hotel from 17-19 March 2006. The programme looked into important issues for enabling volunteers to be effective in the provision of breast cancer support and advocacy. Topics included basic interpersonal communication skills, breast cancer and its impact on the Malaysian woman, setting up Reach to Recovery services and the psychosocial impact of breast cancer, the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, legislation and rights of women in Malaysia, visiting the patient, designing and sewing of breast prostheses, self image and sexuality-coping strategies, breaking bad news and the role of the hospice. Speakers included Ivy Josiah, Prof Dr Jeff Dunn, Ranjit Kaur, Dr Patricia Gomez, Barbara Khoo, Margaret Gooi, Tammy Tam, Dr Ednin Hamzah. 
 

The group at the breast health workshop together with volunteer facilitators

Breast Self Examination/ Breast Health Awareness Workshop

In the afternoon of the 19 March 2006, there was a 3 hour self breast examination and breast health awareness workshop, conducted by Dr Evelyn Ho and assisted by Rosa Ho and Dr R. Sumithra. This was an interactive workshop with hands-on sessions to help the various participants come to grips with the tips, tricks and techniques of systematic self examination. The afternoon was open as well to selected participants who were not cancer survivors, but those in health care or interested in teaching self examination and promoting breast health awareness to others. A group from Sandakan – Mary Tek, Hadizah Kanai and Norifah Maslih came all the way as they were actively planning to start breast health awareness activities in Sandakan, Sabah.
 

NCR 2003 Report: Breast Cancer is still the top cancer amongst women

Latest statistics from
the National Cancer Registry (NCR) show
that lung cancer is the most common cancer experienced by men in the country, whilst
breast cancer is the top cancer in women. Lung cancer accounts for 13.8 per cent of cancer cases among men. For women, breast cancer accounts
for 31 per cent of cases.