A little help from our friends

Sabina, in collaboration with Muang Thai Life Assurance and PTT Global Chemical, recently launched the sixth edition of its “Sewing Cup Sewing Heart” campaign on the concept “Sharing Is Caring”. 

Volunteers are once again being mobilised to help sew 8,100 breast prostheses for donation. A total of 4,050 bras will also be given away to cancer patients in need and partner hospitals nationwide to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 81st birthday anniversary.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Wandee Areerak along with actress Warapun “Jang” Nguitragool, herself a breast cancer survivor, talked about the “sharing is caring” concept during the recent launch event before handing the stage over to Amornthep Asepunya, executive director Sabina’s strategic and business development.

“The ‘Sewing Cup Sewing Heart’ project seeks to build breast cancer awareness and understanding among Thai women. It urges them to adopt preventive self-care measures and take good care of the people around them so that they stay safe from this cancer. At the same time, the project has been extending help to breast cancer patients all along, providing those in need with bras and breast prostheses,” Amornthep said.

Noting that breast cancer is a risk for women aged 40 and above, Dr Wandee said that doctors are seeing an increasing number of breast tumours in younger women. 

“Women should therefore adopt preventive self-care and perform breast self-exam on a regular basis. The self-exam is an easy process and should be performed every month seven to 10 days after the beginning of menstruation. Breasts are not bloated around this time thus allowing for effective palpation. If any abnormal lump is detected, see a physician as soon as possible for detailed examination to ensure timely treatment if the cancer exists,” she said.

“Breast cancer is similar to other illnesses in that everyone is at risk if they fall short of decent self-care,” said Warapun. “If you have breast cancer or have a friend who has it, do not feel hopeless. If you are composed, understanding and face the disease with a strong heart, you can fight it and be completely cured. Remember that to get back your normal, happy life again, you must seek proper treatment as earliest as possible. As for family and friends, encouragement from you is the most important thing that will keep the patients fighting.”

A-list volunteers MR Chantaraladda Yukol, ML Oranich Kitiyakara, ML Oradis Sanitwong and Nop-abha Dhevakula na Ayutthaya are joining the Sabina campaign and the bra-maker took advantage of the launch to set up a exhibition at Siam Paragon’s Fashion to provide information about the project as well as to educate women how to perform a breast self-exam.