RISE campaign to support, serve, and educate global audiences regarding breast cancer awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and RISE: Rally In Screening Everyone is an annual donation fund hosted by the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to support men and women by helping them gain access to the education, screening, and support they need regarding breast cancer.

According to the World Cancer Research Fund, over two million men and women were diagnosed with breast cancer leading to a fatality of 685,000 deaths globally in 2020 — making it the second most prevalent form of cancer among both sexes.

Research conducted by Cancer Research Malaysia revealed that over the next 30 years, the number of Asian women diagnosed will double that of the global 2.3 million figure.

Thus, raising awareness is of paramount importance for regulating, preventing, and supporting breast cancer.

National Breast Cancer Foundation’s RISE campaign to raise awareness and honour those affected | Source © National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Twitter

The purpose of the RISE donation fund is threefold; rally in screening everyone by providing life-saving mammograms; rally in serving everyone by supporting patient navigators who specialise in serving at-risk individuals; and rally in supporting everyone by funding virtual events for awareness campaigns.

At NBCF’s website, Director of Breast Imaging at Oklahoma Breast Institute Elizabeth A. Jett M.D. said, “Many women are truly unable to afford mammography services. NBCF funding allows us to reach vulnerable women who are falling through the cracks.”

Whether this leads to a cancer diagnosis that can now be successfully treated or provides peace of mind that there is no evidence of cancer, we have changed somebody’s life for the better.”

The most common signs and symptoms of breast cancer include lumps, swelling, or thickening in the breast or underarm, dimpling or irritation of breast skin, persistent breast pain, nipple retraction or discharge (other than breast milk), changes in the size and shape of the breast, and redness and scaliness of the nipple or breast skin.

However, it is important to note that there are various types of lumps, most of which are not cancerous. Instead, a majority of lumps are benign especially before the period cycle.

Additionally, risk factors increase an individual's chances of breast cancer.

Risk factors include family history of breast cancer, lifestyle choices, engagement of Hormone Replacement Therapy, birthing first child at 30 years old and older, and experiencing a late menopause at 55 years old and older.

Everyone must learn to read the signs and symptoms and do monthly self-exams together with regular mammogram evaluations, especially those who are of an elderly age.

Regular screenings assist in detecting precancerous and cancerous breast tissue that may be present in an otherwise healthy individual. By properly diagnosing early stages of breast cancer, it is conceivably the most treatable form of cancer.

Mammograms is a type of x-ray that allows doctors to observe any abnormalities or variations in the breast in determining early signs of breast cancer.

In Malaysia, the average cost of a mammogram is RM300. However, the National Cancer Society Malaysia and the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development provides subsidies for underprivileged women, aged 40 and above.

“No one should fight this battle alone. Knowing that the most intimate part of your body is affected by cancer can stir up a plethora of emotions for women.

“We need to create a safe and open space for these women to open up about their struggles, without fear of judgement or shame,” said Director of University of Malaya Medical Centre Prof. Dr. Nazirah Hasnan in The Vibes.

The Breast Cancer Foundations provides a full list of hospitals and clinics in Kuala Lumpur that provide mammograms.