October is the world month for fighting breast cancer

Mrs. Kathy Pardew during the prayer in the Sofia Synagogue in the presence of Zorka Parvanova, wife of the President (the third from the left)

On September 28, Mrs. Kathy Pardew, wife of the US Ambassador to Bulgaria, and Mrs. Maria Novak, President of the International Women’s Club Sofia, announced the start of the Third National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

This year it is under the patronage of Mrs. Zorka Parvanova, and is organised by the International Women’s Club Sofia.

“We are happy that for a third consecutive year the breast cancer campaign enjoys a broad public support. We believe that with this initiative we have helped and are helping more and more women to realise the importance of the problem. We would like to invite everybody to join this noble initiative,” Maria Novak said.

The Campaign has two major tasks: The first is raising the awareness of women about the need for timely prophylactic mammograph examination. The second is the purchase of a modern mobile mammography machine necessary for the examination of women in the distant regions of the country.

The main accents in the charity programme of the International Women’s Club this month were a cross in South Park in Sofia on October 3, prayers for health uniting three religions – at the St. Nedelya Church, at the Central Synagogue in Sofia, and in the Mosque on October 4, a cross in the town of Vidin on October 9, a gala-dinner at the Sofia Military Club on October 9, and a concert of a men’s choir from Iceland at Ivan Vazov National Theatre on October 17.

The Campaign is conducted with the support of Astra Zeneca, Deloitte, AVON, Courier Tip Top, Maritza Iztok III Energy Company, Coca-Cola, Rozova Dolina wine cellar, PEIN D’OR, EVA, “Everything for the Woman”, “Dnevnik”. Main communication partner is Ì3 Communications Group, Inc.

Bulgarian Diplomatic Review magazine has been involved since the launch of the first campaign not only as a media partner. The magazine has been actively supporting, participating in and initiating different events in Sofia and the country throughout the year.

The facts:

• Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women. Every year in Europe 321 000 new cases of breast cancer are established and 124000 women die from this disease.
• Bulgaria ranks among the first in the world in late discovered breast cancer cases. Only 14,2% of the cases are discovered in the first stage and are completely curable. In Western Europe and in the USA this percentage is about 50%.
• In only 5% of the cases the breast cancer affects women under 40 years of age.
• Men can also have breast cancer but the probability is 100 times lower than among women.

The early diagnosing of breast cancer can save your life!

• If found timely, it is curable in 97% of the cases.
• Take some time and every month make a breast self-exam. Consult your family doctor, who will give you the necessary instructions and will arrange for a consultation with a specialist.
• After the age of 20, every woman should get used to making a breast self-exam. The best moment is the week after the end of her period.
• After the age of 30, keep doing the monthly self-exams but visit your family doctor at least once a year for a prophylactic examination or consult a specialist at least once every three years.
• After the age of 40, along with the monthly self-exams and the medical exams every woman should have a prophylactic mammography test every three years.