{"id":1053,"date":"2020-10-13T09:37:31","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T09:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thepaphospost.com\/?p=1053"},"modified":"2020-09-30T09:38:04","modified_gmt":"2020-09-30T09:38:04","slug":"breast-of-friends-breast-cancer-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepaphospost.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/13\/breast-of-friends-breast-cancer-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Breast of Friends- Breast Cancer Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Bejay Browne.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Breast Cancer Awareness month gets underway in October, a local initiative in Paphos encouraged residents to take part in a sponsored walk\/run to raise much needed funds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sponsored walk\/run was in aid of the, \u2018Breast of Friends\u2019, Marilyn McMillan, the current Chairman of the informed the Paphos Post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Breast of Friends is a breast cancer support group and three years ago, thanks to Sue Cordrey of the Paphos Running Group and their women\u2019s group, \u2018Sole Sisters\u2019, an idea was formed to establish an annual walk\/run to raise funds for registered charities, the Paphos cancer patients support group and Pasykaf,\u201d McMillan explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Breast of Friends and Sole Sisters then advise how funds raised from the event could best be used, although the charities have the final say, noted McMillan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is marked in many countries around the world in October, and aims to increase awareness and support of early detection and treatment, as well as palliative care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Breast of Friends support group was started five years ago by Maxine O\u2019Daly and colleague Cherrie Gregory, O\u2019Daly informed the Paphos Post. The group aims to support breast cancer patients from discovery to recovery, she noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough we remain a small group, we have seen new ladies joining us in the last few years. Cherrie and I both retired from the group at the end of 2019, although I\u2019m now an honorary member, which means that I can still enjoy going to meetings and helping with fund raising,\u201d O\u2019Daly said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group meets up regularly and all of the members have or have had breast cancer and all aspects or subjects discussed are confidential, McMillan stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur members can offer their experience and knowledge about anything related to breast cancer and its a good opportunity to make new friends with people who have experiences or circumstances are similar.\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer affecting women all over the world; 18.2 per cent of all cancer deaths worldwide, including both males and females are from breast cancer. It is also the leading cancer in women in Cyprus, with approximately 400 new cases diagnosed annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although McMillan has a background in nursing, she said that she found the process daunting when she was diagnosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know where to turn to, the hospital didn\u2019t give patients any information whatsoever, although this is getting better, and the problems can also be practical. I knew there were buses I could get for treatment in other towns for example, but I had no idea where they went from,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year the initiative raised 6,000 euros, and with guidance from CPSG and PASYKAF nurses, a special bed for cancer patients to be used at patients home, two oxygen machines, as well as arm (compression) sleeves used for Lymphedema, were purchased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lymphedema is a swelling that can sometimes occur in patients\u2019 arms, caused by the removal of or damage to lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, O\u2019Daly noted that a friend has set up a small initiative in Cyprus called, \u2018Knitted Knockers,\u2019 following her daughter\u2019s breast cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKnitted Knockers started in America and aims is to seek volunteers who knit for breast cancer survivors, hand made breast prosthesis for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures to the breast,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special cotton is used which makes it much more comfortable when placed in a bra, O\u2019Daly added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breast of Friends : 99056769
www.breastcancerpaphos.info
<\/a>PASYKAF Paphos : 26 222929
Cancer Patients support helpline : (m) 97 760989<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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