| Delegates signing in at
the registration counter |
1st Asia Pacific Reach to Recovery International Breast Cancer Support Conference (8 - 11 August 2002) The first ever breast cancer support conference in the Asia Pacific region was held in Malaysia recently. The Breast Cancer Welfare Association of Malaysia has successfully taken this bold and noble step for advancing the breast cancer support movement in our region. It is through conferences such as these that there is sharing of information and experiences to help a breast cancer patient cope and emerge through the experience in a positive manner.  | Delegates were given opportunities
to visit displays of special bras and external prosthesis by different companies, all “under one roof” |
Breast Cancer patients need support in their fight against the disease
This conference highlights to society at large the needs and rights of breast cancer patients, the importance of support groups through volunteers as well as the reality of living full lives after breast cancer. The many healthy, attractive breast cancer survivors seen at the conference were (and are still) walking testimonies! A pre-conference workshop on the development and delivery of a breast cancer support service in the Asia Pacific region was held on the morning of 8 August. The Opening Ceremony was held in the afternoon. YB Datin Paduka Seri Hajah Zaleha Ismail, Director of the Asean Confederation of Women’s Organisations officiated at the opening. 
| The audience at the Opening Ceremony | 
| Prof Dr Siti Hajar (right) gets to know Ms Vimal Kamath from India at the Ice Breaking session. Vimal is the Secretary of Sahachari (Mastectomees’ Association, India) | 
| Edna Bello shares her experiences
in the Philippines |
An ice-breaking session was held in the evening where delegates to the conference were encouraged to get to know each other through activities. Participants at the conference were encouraged to have a good time and network throughout the conference. On the final day of the conference, the theme was Living with Breast Cancer in the Asia Pacific Region. The needs, rights of a breast cancer survivor, issues of meeting the information and education needs, as well as peer support were discussed. Presentations of the various Reach to Recovery groups in Japan, Australia, Singapore and India were highlighted. The focus in the afternoon was on communication between the breast cancer patients with health care providers. A need for a National Coalition to enable more effective channeling of resources to programmes for breast cancer sufferers
The culmination of the 4-day conference was the closing ceremony graced by YB Dato’ Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister of Women and Family Development. Ranjit Kaur, the Organising Chairperson gave her closing remarks. The resolutions included fostering networking amongst related groups, the need to lobby for the rights of breast cancer survivors and garner government support for the holistic approach to overcoming breast cancer. There should be access to information, training and advocacy requires collaborative efforts. Ranjit hopes for a National Coalition so that there is a one voice for all with breast cancer and that policy makers will listen to their needs. She appealed to and “invited” YB Dato’ Shahrizat to be patron to this National Coalition. 
| YB Dato’ Shahrizat meets the organising committee on her way into address the Conference delegates |
YB Dato’ Shahrizat in her speech remarked how surprised she was as she just could not differentiate between breast cancer survivors from others. She was very much encouraged by what she saw. She welcomed all the foreign delegates and hoped they enjoyed the Malaysian hospitality. The ministry was looking into the laws, policies, rules and regulations as well as programmes for advocacy issues. She graciously agreed to be the patron of a National Coalition in response to Ranjit’s appeal. As a woman, she also lived in fear as any woman is at risk of breast cancer but was quickly acquiring knowledge to help her deal with this. In addition, as the Minister of the Women and Family Development, this would be a smart partnership with a non-governmental organization to achieve good. She believed in the issues raised at the conference and “InsyaAllah” (God-Willing), the Ministry will be there for them. The Conference ended with the presentation of awards and of course, tea and refreshments! Presentation of Awards
The First Reach to Recovery Malaysia Award went to Margaret Gooi for her outstanding devotion and longstanding volunteer work. The Asia Pacific Reach To Recovery Award was given to Ms Vimal Kamath of India. Both recipients were breast cancer survivors. Dorothy Teoh, President of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association of Malaysia was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for standing at the helm of a very effective association. | 
