Breast cancer support must go beyond awareness, says PIDF chief

Pacific Islands Development Forum secretary-general Arpana Pratap is urging families, workplaces and communities to do more than raise awareness of breast cancer.

She is calling for practical support for women facing the disease.

In her Pinktober message, Ms Pratap said early detection and timely medical intervention were important, but women also needed emotional support and assistance from those around them.

“With this year’s Pinktober theme: Turning Awareness into Action, I encourage every woman, family, workplace, and community to move beyond conversation and take meaningful action by promoting regular screenings, seeking medical advice when needed, and standing in solidarity with those battling breast cancer,” she said.

Ms Pratap said support could take many forms, including helping with daily activities at home, creating awareness, providing supportive workplaces, fundraising or accompanying women to hospital appointments.

“Whether it is through emotional support, assisting in daily activities at home, creating awareness, providing a supportive workplace, help in fundraising or simply accompanying them during their visit to the hospital – it matters to them,” she said.

She encouraged Fijians to show compassion and solidarity with women undergoing treatment, as well as survivors and families affected by the disease.

“Our Fijian community is full of love, compassion and unity that can provide our women the support, strength, encouragement and hope that they all need when battling with breast cancer,” she said.

Ms Pratap also urged women to seek medical checks early, citing a figure of 217 new breast cancer cases registered by the Fiji Cancer Society this year.

She said breast cancer detected in its earliest stages was often easier to treat and less likely to have spread beyond the breast.

“As the news reported, the Fiji Cancer Society has registered 217 new breast cancer cases this year, so I encourage our women to present themselves early to the hospital for medical checkups,” she said.

Ms Pratap said Pinktober should inspire communities to turn awareness into action that had a lasting impact on women and their families.