OUR SERVICES
The wide range of services provided by BCWA comprise three (3) main pillars which cover:
• EDUCATION • PSYCHOSOCIAL • RECOVERY
EDUCATION
BCWA promotes public education on general health and breast health issues, including early detection of breast cancer, and conducting Clinical Breast Examination. Women aged 40 and above are encouraged to do breast self-examination and/or clinical breast examination as a routine to avoid a late diagnosis of breast cancer.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
BCWA conducts regular health literacy talks, forums, and educational and rehabilitation sessions by experts to promote knowledge sharing and help improve the quality of life for individuals affected by breast cancer. Concurrently, breast cancer survivors from BCWA conduct public awareness on how to live life fully through the programme Life After Breast Cancer.
Objectives
MINIMISE suffering, save lives and maintain quality of life for patients and survivors through downstaging breast cancer diagnosis and early treatment intervention.
NAVIGATE women through the health system for early detection and timely medical treatment of breast cancer.
OFFER counselling for women and loved ones who face distress related to breast examination and diagnosis.
Community Outreach
BCWA conducts nationwide Clinical Breast Examinations (CBE) in our MURNI Mobile Clinic, in inflatable clinics or at private spaces within the premises of host organisations.
The programme includes:
• Self-Breast Examination
• Face-to-face talks on breast cancer
• Counselling to manage anxiety and distress
NETWORKING, COLLABORATION AND ADVOCACY
BCWA works closely with the public sector, NGOs, medical institutions and relevant government ministries with the aim of improving the quality of life and healthcare of women affected by breast cancer. These networking and collaborative efforts are established both locally and abroad.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
BCWA provides the regular training sessions in Malaysia for the following:
REACH TO RECOVERY
Training to enable breast cancer survivors to offer psychosocial support to individuals affected by breast cancer at diagnosis, during treatment and beyond
TRAIN-THE-TRAINERS PROGRAM
to enable volunteers to conduct public education regarding being breast aware and early detection of breast cancer
PROSTHESES SEWING
Training in sewing temporary breast prostheses
SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER
BCWA understands the mental health impact that breast cancer has on an individual from the early stages of diagnosis, through treatment and recovery. To help women with breast cancer navigate through this difficult phase, BCWA conducts dedicated sessions to provide psychosocial or emotional and social support manned by trained breast cancer survivors.
Individual
Individual sessions are conducted on a face-to-face basis at hospitals, the BCWA Centre or via telephone and electronically.
Group
Group sessions are also conducted to include individuals with breast cancer and their family members to create mutual support and promote sharing of information.
Every third Saturday of the month
from 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Therapeutic, recreational and social activities are another form of group psychosocial support provided to help individuals recover from the trauma of breast cancer and to lead healthy and active lifestyles. Patients get practical information on managing themselves after diagnosis, during treatment and after treatment is completed.
RECOVERY
CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AFTER TREATMENT
Surviving breast cancer requires determination and the fight continues after treatment. BCWA continues to help women with breast cancer to navigate through the days after treatment to ensure that they are on the right track to recovery.
POST TREATMENT CONCERNS & THERAPY
Therapy session are useful for discussing signs and symptoms of cancer recurrence or treatment complications. These are also conducted to help the recovery process post treatment, and may include physiotherapy for swelling and stiffness post-surgery.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Introducing fitness and diet programs to help boost recovery and reduce any risk of recurrence
CONTINUOUS PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
Managing post treatment depression
MATERIAL SUPPORT
Providing access to prostheses and affordable mastectomy bras
