EVERY LITTLE HELPS

1k4cancer Newsletter 2012

THE CAMPAIGN
The 1k4Cancer Campaign commenced on October 2012 to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month of October the campaign travelled all over Lagos and indeed throughout the world via social media, raising awareness and funds for the treatment of breast cancer. In Nigeria supporters contributed funds and through personal stories of loss and accounts of the struggle with the ailment, which were published on Wanawana.net, and BellaNaija website.
With the support of designated Prefects and wide spread supporters, the campaign was able to raise funds to the tune of N200, 000. The funds were donated to its working partner Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre (SCCSC) in Lagos.

Through the contributions of supporters, these funds were awarded to the beneficiary below:
MRS KUDIRAT ADIO
Mrs. Kudirat Adio is 35 years old and a mother of one child. Kudirat is a petty trader of soft drinks. She was diagnosed with bilateral (both breasts) breast cancer in September 2011. She had received first and second line chemotherapy at Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LUTH), but owing to the progression of the disease, a third line of chemotherapy was recommended, which she cannot. Mrs. Adio was referred to Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre (SCCSC) by her doctors in October 2012.
So far, Mrs. Adio is in urgent need of her drugs. She currently requires four courses of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin, and each course is estimated at N71, 000 only. In total, she requires the sum of N284, 000. Her greatest desire at first contact with Sebeccly was to start and complete her treatment. Mrs. Adio has been counselled extensively at the centre by a cancer survivor, who had being in a similar position. She is an active member of the breast cancer support group

SELF BREAST EXAMINATION TIPS
Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Here’s what you should look for: breasts that are their usual size, shape, and colour; breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling; If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention; Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin; a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out); redness, soreness, rash, or swelling
Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).
Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.
Source: www.breastcancer.org

Please visit www.1k4cancer.org  for more information on what we do and how to support