A smile for breast cancer victims

International fashion and fragrance icon, Carolina Herrera de Baez launched the Support with a Smile initiative at Helen Joseph Hospital, on 26 September. The initiative is in partnership with the Breast Health Foundation and is aimed at providing significant palliative care to people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“The support and information are so key and necessary,” said Herrera de Baez. “Having to go through this period of being diagnosed to then being cured, you need somebody there to tell you what is going on, to give you a smile, to read you a story, to bring you a cupcake, to sit with you and watch a movie, to talk about the latest gossip or whatever it is you may need.”

Herrera de Baez has committed R5 million to the five-year initiative.

David O’Sullivan of Talk Radio 702 emceed the launch and also revealed his friend’s experience with breast cancer. “I have a friend, Belinda, whose mother passed away from breast cancer a couple of years ago,” said O’Sullivan. “Just as Belinda and her husband adopted a new born baby, she discovered she had breast cancer. As a new mother of a mature age she went through it with agony, going through the battle with Chemotherapy and trying to raise a new born baby.”

Breast cancer survivor, Boitumelo Masilo (40), said a new her was born when she was diagnosed. “I believe that I died that day because my lifestyle and career changed after that,” said Masilo. Masilo was turned away by two doctors as they believed she was too young to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Breast Health foundation, founded by Dr Carol-Ann Benn, has helped women such as Masilo, during their life-changing struggle with breast cancer.

“The role of Breast Health Foundation is not about hospital-based care,” said Benn. “It is about awareness in excess in the community and that is where we need to make a difference.”

Details: www.mybreast.org.za