Breast Cancer Awareness Month Throughout IOC

Every year in October, IOC goes pink as our centres carry the message of Breast Cancer Awareness Month through their creative campaigns and uplifting activities. From promoting early breast cancer detection to bringing breast care into the limelight, let us look back at how our centres made a difference in breast cancer awareness in their countries.

AHCC organised a seminar titled, Symposium of Multidisciplinary Approaches to Breast Cancer. From screening to surgery, many facets of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment were discussed in the event which took place at a hotel in Surabaya. The event even had Dr Chan Ching Wan and Dr Henry Oscar from Solis and Luma, our centres in Singapore, sharing their expertise with the many Oncologists, Surgeons and other Specialists from Indonesia!

Another big event organised by AHCC is Healthy Charity OctoBreast. Teaming up with Indi Pound Surabaya, AHCC helped raise funds for the East Jawa branch of the Indonesian Cancer Foundation. Over 200 participants danced to the rhythm of POUND — a new form of exercise from 2011 that incorporates energetic movements with drumsticks. The event was not just physically engaging, but mentally, too, thanks to an educational session delivered by AHCC’s Oncology Surgeon, Dr Vidi Vianney Chrisana Magrit Tanggo.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Beacon Hospital was more colourful than ever thanks to the launch of their colouring corner. Collaborating with Eisai Oncology, these mini-exhibits could be found in Beacon’s clinics. Beyond just looking pretty, these colouring corners were set up to calm patients’ anxiety while waiting for their appointments. More than 250 people contributed to these colouring corners. Besides the colouring corners, the hospital was also adorned with pink decoration throughout, adding a bit more sparkle not just to Beacon Hospital, but to their patients’ lives as well.

Outside of the hospital, Beacon also sponsored Closing the Care Gap, a public health forum which took place at University Malaya Medical Center in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. With an exhibition booth set up, the team from Beacon engaged with attendees and informed the public on the hospital’s latest offerings.

October was a busy month for Can-care as their Look Good Feel Better workshop was in high demand. Conducted in 7 different medical institutions in Northern, Central and Southern Peninsula Malaysia, the workshop provided much-needed post-care breast cancer education for the attendees. The workshop covered topics like wig selection, self-care, makeup and more.

Besides Look Good Feel Better, Can-care Malaysia also travelled across the entire country setting up booths and exhibitions. Their presence was greatly appreciated in the many hospitals, medical centres and shopping malls that they visited.

For Can-care in Singapore, they held a promotion for many of their various products. Prices for items such as mastectomy bras and breast prostheses were slashed throughout October and November. Further sweetening the deal were discount vouchers eligible for those who spent above specific price thresholds.

October saw the official launch of Radixact in CLIOC. As the first of its kind in the Philippines, the state-of-the-art TomoTherapy machine was met with great fanfare, with local news outlets providing coverage on the historic milestone. With CLIOC’s second TomoTherapy machine in place, we hope patients’ waiting time will be cut down even further. Congratulations CLIOC!

Other exciting Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities for the centre include free pedicures and manicures for patients and staff. Every Thursday in October, aesthetic beauticians came to CLIOC and provided their service to anyone interested.

But it was not just nails that had a makeover, the centre itself had a vibrant new look thanks to an initiative called Pink Day. Staff were encouraged to bring their belongings and decorations that were pink. These pink items were then donated for a good cause, passing on the smiles from their previous owners to the new ones.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month for HKIOC had a specific goal in mind — informing the public about breast-conserving therapy. On social media, various informative posts were made, including a giveaway of thermal socks to HKIOC followers which garnered over 2,000 comments and 900 likes. Inside the centre, posters and other breast cancer awareness materials were displayed.

HKIOC also organised a Lymphoedema Monitoring Program together with Global Chinese Breast Cancer Organizations Alliance (GCBC). Free L-Dex tests for lymphoedema were offered to breast cancer patients who underwent surgery and/or radiotherapy from October 2023 to March 2024. Patients who redeemed this free service are also entitled to clinical guidance services and education.

Hung Viet had a very physical Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Their 10,000 Happy Steps virtual run was a smashing success. In 20 days, over 130 athletes travelled a total of 15,149,986 steps.

Indoors, Hung Viet also organised dance therapy for staff and patients. Combining dance and meditation, peace and serenity filled the hearts of the participants. A cellist from America also provided music, creating a calm atmosphere throughout the therapy.

The streets of Hanoi were also coloured pink. Hung Viet’s bikepacking event, The Pink Warrior — Cycle for Loved Ones, saw more than 50 staff and doctors riding over 6 km throughout Hanoi. All eyes were on the cyclists, bringing Hung Viet and breast cancer awareness throughout Vietnam’s capital.

On top of organising the Singapore Breast Multidisciplinary Conference, Solis and Luma also raised funds for Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF). Doctors and staff took part in BCF’s Pink Ribbon Walk, a fundraising event which took place at Marina Bay, Singapore. Solis and Luma further contributed to the cause by setting up donation boxes at their outlets and sold boob bead keychains with all the proceeds going to BCF.

Solis also raised awareness for breast cancer through newspaper advertisements. Dr Tan Yah Yuen was featured in Chinese papers, while Dr Lim Siew Kuan appeared in an English article from The Straits Times. Both Breast Surgeons highlighted the effectiveness of 3D mammograms in detecting breast cancer. Additionally, new educational content from Luma’s Radiologist, Dr Sonia Lee was also shared online.