Advances in Early Screening and Detection My Name Is Chiluba Daka Aged 46 Years. I Am a Recent Breast Cancer Survivor. I Am Single With No Children Emerging From a Developing Country, Which Only Has One Cancer Diseases Hospital Is What Has Prompted Me to Write Something

Abstract

Amount raised: K80,000 Background and context: Breakthrough cancer trust held a fundraising dinner dance to raise finances to build a wellness center in Lusaka. Aim: Wellness center to house care givers and patients once discharged from the cancer diseases hospital, especially those patients from upcountry towns. Strategy/Tactics: We have other fundraisers billed up for this year such as dinner dance. We have partners and well wishers who donate toward our cause, but we plan to also start one weekend per month a no car policy, which will enable people to walk and raise money toward breast cancer awareness and screening. This in turn will enable us screen women for breast cancer without an extra cost, as this has been a challenge having only one cancer diseases hospital in the country. Program process: Costs and returns: We have a number of pledges from well wishers, but also have planned fundraising walks too. What was learned: Having just completed my treatment in 2017, I see the challenges faced by many especially for those who live outside Lusaka. Accessing mammograms and ultrasound services is unaffordable for many, unless they go to the hospital during the free cancer awareness and screening month in October. During our awareness walk we meet a lot of people in the streets and handout flyers. Then we realised a lot of people are unaware of breast cancer and the symptoms and only learn of them once a loved one is diagnosed with it. They do not even know simple self-breast checks.