The Action for Breast Cancer foundation website was launched yesterday by Mrs Catherine Gonzi, at the Health promotion Department, in Msida.
Health Promotion director Charmaine Gauci, ABC committee members, and ABC ambassador Ira Losco were also present.
ABC committee member Esther Sant, spoke about the work ABC has carried out so far. She said that the foundation has already donated a biopsy gun to the breast cancer clinic at St Luke’s hospital.
The website www.actionforbreastcancer. com also includes visual instructions on breast examination. The portal also entails guidelines on breast cancer.
Ms Sant also announced the Pinkday march on 20 October, which will take off from City Gate and move along Republic Street. On the day ABC aims to gather more signatures for a petition which aims to increase awareness among women on breast cancer and encourages women over 45 years old to take a mammogram test yearly.
Dr Gauci spoke on illness prevention and said that it is necessary for the Maltese to cooperate in the struggle against breast cancer. She said that this illness afflicts mostly women over 30 years of age.
She admitted that the rate of Maltese women who lose their life to breast cancer in comparison to that of other EU states, it is not an alarming one. However, more should be done to continue lowering the rate.
Mrs Gonzi said that this informative campaign is proactive and can be very positive owing to the fact that most of its committee members have received medical treatment for breast cancer.
She added that by clicking on the website and by gathering information on this kind of cancer, women would not only alleviate bodily pain, but also heartache and family concern.
Mrs Gonzi thanked the media and said that despite the negative aspect of this disease, an early diagnosis of this illness through yearly clinical screening and yearly mammogram testing for a more effective treatment can be of great help. She said that there is hope as there are a lot of women who have survived breast cancer.
Ira Losco said that when she was contacted to become the ambassador of the foundation, she had no idea that there were young women her age who were afflicted by this kind of cancer.