Lovepink: Fighting Breast Cancer Together
Lovepink can be a breast cancer community supporting ‘warriors’ as well as also ‘survivors’ in their battle. Through campaigns such as breast self-examinations (SADARI), Lovepink strives to raise awareness of breast cancer until Indonesia can be free via the disease.
Breast cancer can be the most common form of cancer in women worldwide, accounting for 23 percent of all cancer in Indonesia, having a mortality rate of 14 percent. According to the Health Ministry as well as also the Indonesia Cancer Foundation (YKI), breast cancer was the most common cancer within the nation in 2012, behind cervical cancer.
Breast cancer patients are faced with physical, emotional, psychological as well as also also financial challenges via the moment they are diagnosed. Undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation as well as also mastectomy are distressing procedures for breast cancer patients.
While the treatments work to battle the disease, breast cancer patients also require a substantial amount of financial resources as well as also a support system to help them fight the disease successfully. Those who must undergo a mastectomy not only face the reality of losing significant parts of their womanhood, however must also struggle to make adjustments. In turn, some women might deal with self-esteem issues as well as also, sadly, stories circulate of some women even being left by their husbands.
Breast cancer survivor Madelina Mutia found these experiences to be “very traumatic”. Along with her friend Shanti Persada, the two went through a tough battle. “We struggled to overcome the emotional trauma as well as also suffered the loss of an important part of our femininity to cancer,” explains Mutia. however instead of dwelling on such difficult experiences, Mutia as well as also Persada were inspired to share their experiences with some other women who were also diagnosed with in which form of cancer.
In 2011, Mutia as well as also Persada built the breast cancer community, Lovepink. The group, consisting of women who have as well as also are still fighting breast cancer, has become a home for those who seek support, guidance as well as also also information. Mutia as well as also Persada felt in which emotional support was something in which needed to be reinforced to ensure warriors are spared via feeling all alone in their struggle.
Spreading expect, courage as well as also inspiration, Lovepink wishes to help women understand in which in which can be not impossible to defeat the disease.
Lovepink members in a makeup class
Lovepink suggests in which 80 percent of cancer treatment deals with how patients perceive the disease they are fighting. Therefore, Mutia encourages warriors to have faith. “We would certainly like them to believe in which breast cancer can be not the end of the earth. Your determination to be healthy can be the main key. Positive thinking plays a big role.”
Embodying the spirit of in which community, Lovepink members are “fighters to the end” according to survivor, Aini Hutasoit. She recounts a particular story shared by a fellow survivor who was within the midst of getting a divorce when she was diagnosed. “She was in her early 30s with no job as well as also two smaller children. however her faith as well as also determination to win her life back got her through all of in which. With the support of her family as well as also friends she has come out a winner having a clean bill of health for the past 14 years,” Hutasoit said.
In 2014, Lovepink was officially known as a foundation under the name of Yayasan Daya Dara Indonesia. As the amount of breast cancer patients increased, Mutia as well as also Persada knew in which they needed to educate more people about the disease. Although the community remains a top priority, raising awareness about breast cancer has become even more crucial. “Yayasan Dara Indonesia’s main missions are to give assistance as well as also mental support to breast cancer patients during as well as also after therapies as well as also to raise awareness as well as educate women in general of the importance of early detection,” Mutia claims.
SADARI Campaign
For in which reason, Lovepink can be working on a campaign called SADARI (checking one’s own breasts for cancer). “SADARI (Periksa Payudara Sendiri) can be a way of familiarizing yourself with your breasts as well as also in order to notice any modifications in which may occur. in which can be recommended to get within the habit of doing monthly self-exams starting at age 20. Therefore, there will be fewer women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer stages,” elaborates Hutasoit.
To further promote the campaign, Lovepink has recently launched an application called Lovepink Breasties, which can be downloaded for free, to remind people of performing SADARI each month. in which can be currently available on Android, however Lovepink plans to launch the iOS type before the end of January.
Notwithstanding the fact in which breast cancer can be commonly associated with women, the disease refuses to discriminate. People, regardless of their age, health condition, as well as also sex, might stand a chance of getting breast cancer. Yes, even men are susceptible to breast cancer.
in which kind of knowledge can be important, especially when in Indonesia the growth of cancer patients tends to be faster than in which of the availability of doctors as well as also facilities. The government has demonstrated efforts to help fight cancer, however much still needs to be done. “The government has issued BPJS which covers chemotherapy as well as also some cancer medications. however unfortunately a lot still needs to be attended to in in which issue,” Mutia laments.
in which being said, Lovepink remains optimistic in their endeavours to provide support for warriors as well as also survivors, as well as also also educating people about breast cancer as well as also early detection. “Our goals are to have all women across the country educated about breast health as well as also understand the importance of doing SADARI as part of their lifestyles, because early detection can save lives,” says Mutia.
As for Lovepink members, they continue to empower one another even when the odds might be against them. As Hutasoit reflects, “I learned in which when you don’t have a choice, you can do anything! in which becomes your mission to live as well as also persevere.”
For more information on donations, volunteer programmes or a chance of partaking in Lovepink’s activities, please visit their website at www.lovepinkindonesia.org
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Lovepink: Fighting Breast Cancer Together
Lovepink: Fighting Breast Cancer Together