Zonta Club II of Colombo launches awareness campaign in view of Breast Cancer month

Zonta Club II of Colombo office bearers at the launch of the video camaign 

• The most common form of cancer among females in Sri Lanka is Breast cancer, with over 5000 to 6000 new patients being reported every year
•  Inspired by an Australian initiative from 1995, Zonta Club II of Colombo began its Breast Cancer Comfort Cushion Project in 2013, introduced by Zontian Devika Fernando to aid women post-surgery

Breast cancer is now identified as the commonest cancer among females in Sri Lanka, with over 5000-6000 new patients being reported every year. According to statistics, around 15 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, while around 3 women diagnosed with breast cancer die every day. It is in this backdrop that the Zonta Club II of Colombo initiated its Breast Cancer Comfort Cushion Project back in 2013 to provide comfort for women who have undergone breast cancer surgeries. 

Originally initiated by the Zonta Club of Botany Bay, Australia, in 1995, the concept was introduced to Zonta Club II by Zontian Devika Fernando. The breast care cushion was designed by Ann Selle, of the Zonta Club of Botany Bay and is acknowledged as the pioneer of the breast care cushion in Australia. After hearing about the discomfort experienced by women who recover from breast surgery, Selle designed this cushion to help women feel more comfortable during the convalescing period. As such, the smooth U-shaped satin cushion has been designed with a strap and could be worn like a handbag to fit into the armpit. It cushions the surgical incision area, promotes movement of the arm without fear of trauma to the incision, and helps reduce swelling and distress.

Since then, the Club has worked passionately to raise awareness of breast cancer among females living across the island. While the month of October is dedicated to raising awareness on breast cancer, members of Zonta Club II have made sure that this project continued despite any challenges that came their way. Apart from that, the Club organises quarterly events to raise awareness on breast cancer among women in many parts of the country, while also conducting sessions in companies along with a consultant doctor. 

While the month of October is dedicated to raising awareness on breast cancer, members of Zonta Club II have made sure that this project continued despite any challenges that came their way. Apart from that, the Club organises quarterly events to raise awareness on breast cancer among women in many parts of the country, while also conducting sessions in companies along with a consultant doctor

This year, the members are getting ready to visit several girls’ schools in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Hambantota and Negombo to raise awareness on breast cancer. This is because one of the first steps of minimising the risk of developing breast cancer is early diagnosis. “Our motto is to ensure that all females above the age of 20 are aware of this condition called breast cancer and to educate them about early diagnosis,” said Vindyani Hettigoda, Chairperson of the breast cancer awareness project. 

In order to reach out to a wider audience, the Club launched a breast cancer awareness video at the Colombo City Centre (CCC) on October 3. This three-and-a-half-minute video will be aired at Liberty and Scope Cinemas during the month of October, in addition to dedicated screens installed at CCC. 

The video provides an overview of local and global statistics, how to detect breast cancer early, common symptoms, an explanation of the self-breast examination and how to beat breast cancer. 

Speaking further about the breast cancer cushion project, Hettigoda said that they provide 2000 cushions to around 30 hospitals in the country that include breast cancer units. “One benefit to people is that even those who have undergone a minor surgery due to breast cancer could wear this cushion. However, due to the rise in production costs, we face some challenges in producing these cushions, and we are now looking for donations or any kind of support. Prior to COVID-19, the cost of production was around Rs. 350-400, but now it is around Rs. 800,” she explained. 

The Club requires finances to obtain raw materials needed to stitch the cushion, including the synthetic filling, as well as remunerating the group of women involved in stitching the products. Explaining the process behind stitching quality cushions, Hettigoda further said that the most important aspect is to store the synthetic filling in a temperature-controlled room to avoid the development of any fungus. Once the cushions have been stitched, we bring them back and store them at one of our warehouses prior to distribution. The cushion is reusable, and users can wash it and use it regularly. Over the past five years, the Hettigoda Group has handled the logistics of this project from obtaining linen to sending it to the sewing people, in addition to collection and distribution,” she added.

The cushions are given to users free of charge, but according to Hettigoda, the demand for cushions has increased over a period of one year. “Females who have doubts about various symptoms should come out and talk about them before they get to Stage 4. There are family health clinics in almost all MOH areas. They can simply walk into one of these clinics and talk about their health issues. Then they would be referred to another doctor or hospital, depending on the severity of the case. While it is good to see many women coming forward to talk about their experience, I’m also worried about the fact that many more women choose to hide their symptoms until it is too late,” she said, while adding that she feels honoured to be a part of this project and make a change in the lives of these women. 

In conclusion, she advised women to take some time off their busy lives and dedicate one hour to doing some exercises, meditating or engaging in yoga. “Go for a checkup once a month, drink a lot of water, cleanse yourself, follow natural remedies more often and eat clean and healthy, because it is high time that we minimise health risks associated with our lifestyles,” she underscored. Pics by Waruna Wanniarachchi 

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