October is more than just the month selected to focus on mental health education, awareness and advocacy; it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and often dubbed “Pink Month”.
Many people, women in particular, wear pink or sport a pink ribbon to show their support for this cause to raise awareness about the effects of breast cancer.
Shops, businesses and restaurants also go pink to help spread awareness and fundraise, with many donating a portion of proceeds to breast cancer organizations.
Over the month, the government, the private sector and the public sector organize events and activities to provide education, services and support to women, patients and their families who are fighting breast cancer, the number one cancer affecting women worldwide.
Globally, more than 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and 670,000 died from the disease, according to the World Health Organization.
Making necessary care accessible to the needy
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Department of Medical Services (DMS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), under the Ministry of Public Health (MPH), are urging Thai women to regularly do a self-breast examination and have a clinical breast examination carried out by a doctor to help detect early signs of breast cancer.
Speaking on the occasion marking Pink October, DMS deputy director general Dr. Sakarn Bunnag noted that breast cancer is the most common cancer in Thai women.
According to the NCI, over 20,000 new cases of breast cancer are reported each year in Thailand and around 4,800 people die from the disease.
“Smoking, drinking alcohol, having a high-fat diet, not being physically active, and being overweight or obese increase the risks of breast cancer,” he said urging people to change the lifestyle habits which may help prevent the disease.
NCI director Flt. Lt. Dr. Somchai Thanasitthichai said the institute was committed to spreading awareness about the importance of breast cancer screening among Thai women and providing education on how to check their breasts on their own.
“I urge all women to check their breasts regularly. It’s something you can do on your own. If you are aged 40 and over, you should be screened by a doctor or medical personnel once a year. The two methods can help detect breast cancer at the early stage,” he said.
The MPH has worked hard to push forward cancer care policy to ensure that Thai women have an equal chance at early detection and cancer prevention.
It has also improved medical care and treatment, putting in place a referral system to make sure that patients receive the most appropriate care that meets treatment standards and complies with the patients’ treatment rights.
The National Health Security Board (NHSB) has approved breast cancer screening tests that include mammograms and ultrasounds for Thai women aged 40 and over who have direct relatives with a history of breast cancer.
The tests have been added to the existing benefit package of the Universal Coverage Scheme, or the so-called Gold Card or 30-baht scheme.
The approval for the additional health benefit was made on January 18 this year at the board committee meeting.
Thai women aged 40 and over who have a family history of breast cancer are entitled to the newly added services not more than once a year..
Earlier, the NHSB gave the green light to testing for the BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation for breast cancer patients aged 18 and over and their direct relatives for breast cancer prevention.
The power of pink
In addition to the government’s action, hospitals, foundations, associations, organizations and companies are doing their part to help spread breast cancer awareness.
They have arranged events and activities to support this vital cause for women throughout October.
For example, Lopburi Cancer Hospital (LBCH) together with Happy Chemo Club by Nutrepreme and their alliances including the Thai Lifestyle Medicine and Wellbeing Association, Nutrition Club, part of Mahidol University’s Faculty of Public Health, the Department of Nutrition, Thai Wacoal Pcl, and Cheewajit Magazine joined forces to organize a special event at the LBCH to mark World Breast Cancer Day 2024 on October 7.
The event was aimed at spreading breast health awareness, while promoting regular screening and early detection and improving physical and mental health in women with breast cancer.
The event featured a seminar, entitled “Empowering Thai women in Fighting Against Breast Cancer,” with the hospital’s Dr. Surattaya Siriarechakul clarifying diagnosis and treatment process for breast cancer.
She also highlighted the hospital’s capacity to provide medical services for breast cancer including mammography and ultrasound carried out by a team of qualified doctors and specialists.
The LBCH is a regional cancer hospital under the supervision of the DMS. It’s responsible for providing medical care and treatment for cancer patients in 12 provinces.
Between 2021 and 2023, the hospital provided breast cancer screening to more than 4,000 women, with more than 900 of them being diagnosed with breast cancer a year, according to the doctor.
Asst. Prof. Akkarach Bumrungpert at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Public Health gave a nutrition guide for women with breast cancer. Dr. Yongyuth Mayalarp, president of the Thai Lifestyle Medicine and Wellbeing Association shared ways to improve the quality of life for cancer patients.
As part of the ‘Wacoal Pink Ribbon’ campaign, Thai Wacoal provided education on prevention methods to reduce risk factors as well how to do the self-breast exam to check got anything unusual.
The company’s representative also handed over chemo hats and mastectomy bras to the LBCH to be given to cancer patients to help restore their confidence.
Staff members of Cheewajit Magazine together with art therapists, academics and social workers ran an art therapy workshop that offered a range of techniques to help cancer patients deal with negative thoughts and feelings they encounter.
The Thanyarak Foundation under the royal patronage of HRH Princess Srinagarindra has teamed up with Rajabhat universities in provinces and their alliances to run training sessions to teach volunteers about the importance of breast health awareness and how to do self-breast exam.
The volunteers will work to spread awareness and provide knowledge and skills.
Also, Paul Thailand together with the Thanyarak Foundation has launched ‘October Rose’ campaign to raise funds for the foundation, with 30 baht from every purchase of grand macaron at the bakery shops and restaurants deducted to donate to the foundation for the purchase of necessary medical devices used for early diagnosis of breast cancer.
The campaign runs until October 31.
For its part, the Thanyarak Foundation established the Thanyarak Breast Center at Siriraj Hospital in collaboration with Siriraj Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine.
The center provides comprehensive breast cancer treatment services and serves as a training hub for doctors and medical personnel in breast cancer diagnosis.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration along with the Kanchanabaramee Foundation is providing complimentary screening for breast cancer at Sanam Luang until October 22, 2024.
The services will be also provided at the designated places in Bangkok between October 26 and November 16, 2024.
People who are interested in using the services are required to register online in advance. For more information, make contact through the Line app at @268jhxsh or call 02 590 4555.
