Report on Dominica Cancer Society Breast Health Campaign 2010

During the month of January 2010, the Dominica Cancer Society continued its Breast Health Campaign. The campaign began in October of 2009 in the Roseau Health District.

This campaign aims to:
• Build public awareness to the significance of Breast Health as an integral part of Breast Cancer prevention.
• Teach self breast examinations
• Conduct clinical breast examinations
• Promote the importance of early detection as a tool to improving quality of life beyond diagnosis.
• Refer clients needing further investigation and management
The various health districts were all invited to submit dates under this program and La Plaine Health District was the first to respond. The staff welcomed the collaborative effort of the Dominica Cancer Society.
In each of the health centres in the district, the program was structured as follows:
• a health education session conducted by registered nurse Allison Samuel, health educator at the Health Promotion Resource Centre on breast health
• breast self examinations were taught
• clinical breast examinations were conducted by the Family Nurse Practitioner for the district and nursing staff; both from the district and members of the Dominica Cancer Society.

In all the health centres, the public response was overwhelmingly good. At the end of the month, a total of two hundred and thirty eight (238) community members had attended the education sessions, one hundred and ninety six (196) persons got their clinical breast examinations done, and out of these twenty one (21) were referred for further investigation and management.

Also Dr Roberto, the proprietor of Medicus Diagnostics has joined the campaign of the Dominica Cancer Society and is now offering mammography at a discounted rate to all clients who access the service through the Dominica Cancer Society.

The Society commends the efforts of the La Plaine Health Team without whose support and partnership the program would not have been successful. The Society looks forward to the strengthening of this collaboration.