Exclusively for our readers, Mrs. Kathy Pardew said:

I have always participated in Breast Health campaigns whether living in the USA or overseas. It has been a pleasure to work even more closely with the campaign in Bulgaria. I sincerely hope that my efforts have made some difference in women’s lives.

Last year’s campaign was quite successful and drew much attention to the issues at hand. We were able to visit many other towns outside Sofia and meet other women and encourage them to promote our message in their communities.

This year’s campaign is bigger and spread farther still. I traveled through Rousse this week on my way to Silistra and Razgrad. I met briefly and by chance the mayor of Rousse and was able to pass on some CD’s in Bulgarian language that can be used by NGO’s in the area to promote breast self-exam. In Silistra and Razgrad, I left the same information to be used by women’s groups. It is heart warming to meet and work with groups that have the same desire to share information woman to woman. Now, I just hope I will have the opportunity to go back and visit time and again.

We have had such great news from the Ministry of Health. The ministry announced the donation of a mobile mammography unit at a conference in Varna September 17th. What a generous and timely gift to the Bulgarian women! I am so thankful to the ministry and can’t wait to see the unit myself. We have provided the information about screening but have been unable to achieve the results needed because no mobile unit was available. Bulgarian women are now very well informed about breast cancer and my greatest hope is that we can devise a comprehensive screening process that will reach women in all areas of Bulgaria. Surely, with this incredible gift of a mobile unit, we will be reaching women in the farthest regions very soon. My congratulations to the ministry!

The International Women’s Club is committed to this campaign for as long as we must fight this disease. The club membership is fortunate to receive constant information on clinical trials and research on cancer drugs and new treatments. Information is critical to the campaign and we plan to share information on women’s health issues.

The pillars of the campaign have not changed. The steps to women’s health are three, breast self-exam each and every month, clinical breast exam once a year by a physician and thirdly, a mammogram once each year after the age of forty.

My message to any woman facing the diagnosis of breast cancer is one of hope and strength. My own mother fought a brave battle with this disease for many years and she never gave up hope of a cure. She stayed involved in many activities even when she was very frail and ill. She was determined to live her life as a healthy person. She had a great mind and stiff determination. I believe this determination and strict belief that she could never give in to the disease gave her extra years of living. So my wish is that we never give up – we never give up the fight and we never give up the campaign to inform and encourage all women.

I am still determined to fight for every woman for as long as I can. I will share all I can learn and will share all my energy. Thank you for being involved and being so strong.

Juliana Tomova