The pink army’s mission: Beat breast cancer

Launching their offensive at the Philippine Army Officers’ Clubhouse in Fort Bonifacio, an all-pink army (with a handful of males) swoops down on the SM Mall of Asia Grounds on Sunday, Oct. 12 to declare war against breast cancer that’s estimated to claim 500,000 lives worldwide (with some 1.7 million cases) this year.

So, at 1100 hrs., we troop to the war room to regroup — putting our heads and hearts together to reinforce our stand against the Big C. After all, in union, there is strength.

The commander-in-chief of this pink army speaks in a gentle but persuasive voice: “When you look at those statistics, it’s quite frightening that we have a disease that women all around the world, and equally in the Philippines, are having to battle and fight.  And as a woman leading Avon Philippines, I feel it’s not just my job to run a business. It’s also my job to create awareness and push the campaign for fighting this disease to a new level,” declares Julie Tatarczuk, Avon Philippines president and general manager. “This is an important mission, which means we all need to join this war because it can hurt women, people we know and love. The silent enemy, for many, many years, has claimed lives and continues to claim lives. Breast cancer knows no age, social demographic, it will hit where it decides to hit. So, it can affect me, it can affect your mom, your sisters, your daughters, your friends, your neighbors.”

And the weapon to fight the enemy? “Through awareness, through education, we can face this war and help save lives. It’s now that we have to give every single woman in this country the ammunition to survive this disease. So, this is the first step, being here in this army headquarters where many important decisions have been been made. You have to become soldiers to fight this disease,” Julie rallies everyone.

A woman’s best weapon vs. this disease? “Breast examination is a woman’s best weapon because early detection yields a better outcome,” stresses Julie. “There’s evidence and research to say that if women are more aware of how to check themselves and they find something earlier, they will have a better diagnosis, a better outcome. Because the earlier you catch breast cancer, the earlier you get into treatment, the more survivors we have.”

In fine fighting form, French-Filipina beauty and KGBC (Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer) ambassador Solenn Heussaff takes to the stage, takes up the cudgels for the cause, and shows us how to do the breast examination, via video and a live performance. You can do your own breast check in the shower, in front of a mirror or while lying down. So, girls (and guys, too, as men get breast cancer, too), here’s how:

In the shower

• Put your right hand behind your head. Press the fingers of your left hand firmly on your right breast and feel for any lump or thickening.

• Repeat the procedure. Put your left hand behind your head. Press the fingers of your hand firmly on your left breast.

In front of a mirror

• Start with your arms at your sides. Then, clasp your hands behind your head.

• Take note of any irregularity in your breasts’ appearance such as puckering, dimpling, or scaling.

• Afterwards, gently squeeze your nipples and check for any discharge.

While lying down

• Place a pillow under your right shoulder.

• Put your right hand behind your head.

• Press your left hand’s fingers firmly on your right breast. Start out at the outermost top edge, then work your way towards the nipple in circular motion while feeling for any unusual lump or mass.

• Check also the area between your breast and armpit.

• Repeat the procedure to check your left breast.

But Julie clarifies, “This is not taking away from mammography, we’re not saying it’s not important anymore, it has a role to play. We’re merely adding another layer. We’re saying let’s educate women, whether they’re 15 years old (the youngest breast cancer victim in Avon’s records is a 16-year-old) all the way up to 80, let’s teach them how to check themselves. Awareness and detection are critical.”

So, united we stand and sway to the beat of Avon’s global Dibdiban Dance (breast dance) and learn it by heart. “Don’t feel embarrassed to check yourself,” Julie enjoins everyone. “Especially in the Philippines where women are less aware, we have to get the awareness out and catch the disease early.”

Is victory in sight against this dreaded enemy? Julie asserts, “If a woman teaches another woman about awareness, that’s a victory. If even just one person in this room finds something or tells someone else, that’s a victory in itself.”

And so, the pink army marches on. Its battle cry: Know your own body.  Consult a doctor once you find something different in your body.

With this formidable weapon, sweet victory may not be far behind.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To fight this war against breast cancer, Avon has joined forces with the Philippine Cancer Society, GMA Network, Inc., SM, and Ford Philippines, all loyal allies of this cause. The Avon Pink Walk and Run (WAR), now in its 12th year in the Philippines, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Mall of Asia Grounds (the only venue that can hold an army of 20,000 plus). Brave souls who will run for the cause may enlist now until Oct. 6 in the Avon website www.avon.com.ph and Chris Sports branches at Festival Mall, Glorietta 3, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall Building B, SM City North Edsa Main Mall, and Market! Market!. Enlistment fee is P550 for the 5k run and P700 for the 10k run, inclusive of the Avon war kit which includes a singlet, race number, and giveaway (plus you get to run with celebrities like Solenn Heussaff, Kris Bernal and Rocco Nacino). Those who will walk may register for P299, inclusive of a WAR shirt. You can also buy a limited-edition Skin-So-Soft lotion made for KGBC at P300 to help the cause. Proceeds from the WAR will go to the Philippine General Hospital Breast Care Center and selected provincial hospitals.