Development of Support Activities for Patients with Breast Cancer in Developing Countries

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Development of Support Activitiesfor Patients
with Breast Cancer in Developing Countries

• Ranjit Kaur
• President
• Reach to Recovery International
• UICC

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Diagnosis?
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Who me? Couldnt be!!!
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Breast Cancer Myths Marginalisation
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Alternative Methods
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Breast Cancer Interrupts womans role in the
family
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Breast Cancer Interrupts livelihood
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Reach To Recovery
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Objectives of RRI

• Links with other RRI groups and Societies
• Mutual sharing / exchange information /experience
  
• Assist in training and development
• Foster research activities
• Promote the creation of new groups
• Meet the changing needs of women with breast
  cancer, their families and friends.

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Reach To Recovery International
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Reach To Recovery International
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Is there a Need to set up RRI program?

• Statistics Incidence, projections by Ministry
• Needs of patient and family
• Speak to Healthcare personnel
• Cancer societies
• What kind of resources and support exist
• Local situation regarding volunteerism

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Who is a Reach To Recovery Volunteer?

• breast cancer survivor
• completed treatment and recovered
• enables patient/family to - express feelings,
  ask questions, verbalize fears and concerns
• knowledgeable/level-headed / positive role model
• offers understanding, support and strength
• helps the woman to live a normal /productive life

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Role of the Reach to Recovery Volunteer

• Provides contact with women at diagnosis as
  well as those currently receiving treatment for
  breast cancer giving emotional, informational and
  practical support

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Guidelines To offer emotional and practical
support

• RRI Volunteers
• Women with breast cancer experience offer hope,
  encouragement
• and a listening ear

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Guidelines To offer emotional and practical
support

• Volunteers to
• Visit the woman in the hospital get approval
  of the woman and her doctor

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Guidelines To offer emotional and practical
support

• Volunteers to do
• Home visits if requested by the woman family
• Offer respite care

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Guidelines To offer emotional and practical
support

• Volunteers to ensure
• Total Confidentiality

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RRI Volunteers give practical support Sewing of
prosthesis
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By offering support

• A Volunteer is
• A Positive role model of recovery and return to
  good health after breast cancer

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Guidelines To offer emotional and practical
support
Setting up RTR Groups

• Volunteers do NOT
• Give medical advice
• Impose own beliefs
• Get judgemental
• Make comparison with own treatment

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Guidelines To offer emotional and practical
support

• Volunteers are
• Carefully selected and trained by approved
  trainers
• Committed to undertake training and supervision

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UICC and its support
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The role of the RRI President
Setting up RTR Groups
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RRI Regional Development

• African Region Ann Steyn, South Africa
• Asia Pacific Ranjit Kaur, Malaysia
• Eastern Europe Irina Kozulina, Belarus
• Western Europe Maria Cunha Matos, Portugal
• Latin America Susana Fantino, Argentina

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RRI Conferences
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Thank Youranjit_at_myjaring.netwww.uicc.org