NATION

Cancer Organisation Interested In Connecting With Fijian Male Breast Cancer Patients

The founder of Male Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) global is looking to connect with the male breast cancer patients in Fiji. All in an effort to provide  patients with the
23 Oct 2017 14:12
Cancer Organisation Interested In Connecting With Fijian Male Breast Cancer Patients

The founder of Male Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) global is looking to connect with the male breast cancer patients in Fiji.

All in an effort to provide  patients with the tools necessary to make informed decisions about treatment. Cheri Ambrose hopes to make contacts with Fijian male breast cancer survivors.

Ms Ambrose, who is based out of the United States while keeping  track of male breast cancer patients globally, made known her interest in Fiji after reading cancer stories posted by on the Fiji Sun online website.

She specifically works on creating awareness on male breast cancer patients to break the idea that it’s a woman’s disease.

“We are a globally recognised non-profit organization whose mission is to bring men with breast cancer together with the top oncologists, researchers, geneticists and pharmaceutical companies,” Ms Ambrose said.

She said her organisation was dedicated to bringing male breast cancer survivors together to share their journey in hopes of spreading awareness of breast cancer in men.

“We aim to provide men with the tools necessary to make their best-informed choices when faced with a breast cancer diagnosis,” Ms Ambrose said.

“While I have never visited Fiji I certainly would be interested in coming to Fiji and supporting your breast cancer awareness campaign.

“I am more than positive that some of our male survivors would take great interest in this as well.”

She said one of the reasons for connecting with the Fiji Sun was to request the survivor’s approval to include their breast cancer story on the Male Breast Cancer Coalition website.

Male Breast Cancer Coalition currently include men affected in the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada Bangladesh and the US.

“It is unfortunate that breast cancer is only discussed during October as it certainly is fought all year long,” she said.

Ms Ambrose is the woman who was able to secure the third week of the Pinktober month specifically for male breast cancer survivors in the US and it is now globally practiced.

In 2009, Ms Ambrose discovered a close male friend was battling breast cancer.

But embarrassed and horrified that he had a “woman’s disease,” he refused to make his diagnosis public.

Then, Ms Ambrose decided to begin a personal mission to raise male breast cancer awareness nationwide.

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar

Feedback:  arishma.narayan@fijisun.com.fj

Subscribe-to-Newspaper