One of the most common types of cancer prevalent among women, and a sizable number of men is breast cancer. However, over the years, healthcare professionals and groups advocating for the prevention of breast cancer have succeeded in improving the survival rates of individuals who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. One approach is to do your own self-check. 

October coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness month and members of the Zonta Club II of Colombo said they have planned a series of initiatives to raise awareness among young and old respectively. 
Under the theme ‘It won’t happen to me, Until it does’ the Club members plan to emphasize on the importance of conducting self-checks so that those who are vulnerable, can identify symptoms and go for early diagnosis. 

Another initiative that has been carried out by the club includes the distribution of the breast care cushion. This cushion is a comfort pillow for women who have undergone a mastectomy and are having difficulties resting their arms in the place where the breast once existed. The cushion, enables women to have free arm movement. Some women develop lymphatic blocks as their arm movements are restricted once they undergo surgery. 
It was back in 1995 that the Zonta Club of Botany Bay introduced the breast care cushion project. In 2012 the Zonta Club II of Colombo initiated the project in Sri Lanka and they have been continuing it to date. 

The Club has subsequently been distributing these cushions free-of-charge to 38 hospitals across the country and so far they have provided over 2000 cushions. 
In addition, they are also planning to conduct awareness programmes in various parts of the country including Nuwara Eliya, Hambantota, and Anuradhapura so that they could educate doctors and healthcare professionals to raise awareness among local communities on the importance of self-examinations. 
Interestingly, the cushions are stitched by a group of women in Bandaragama as a means of empowering them to be self-employed. Several awareness programmes are scheduled to be held in Jaffna, Police Headquarters in Colombo to address target audiences. 

A special workshop on early detection of breast cancer will be held at the Lanka Hospitals towards the latter part of the month.
Mammograms are another way to check for breast cancer, especially for those above 35 years of age. This year the Club is also planning to give away twenty-five mammogram vouchers in partnership with several leading hospitals in Colombo including Nawaloka Hospital, Lanka Hospital, Ninewells Hospital, Durdans Hospital and Asiri Hospital. 

The members are thankful to its sponsors including MAS Holdings and the Hettigoda Group for making their project possible over consecutive years. 
This year the organisers are also planning to introduce early detection of breast cancer as part of the school curricula so that children too would be aware of its symptoms. 
Follow the zontaclub2ofcolombo Instagram and Facebook handles for more information on their activities during breast cancer awareness month. 
Anybody willing to contact the Club or sponsor a cushion could send an email to [email protected].