Bangkok, 7th October 2024 – The Global Cancer Observatory reported that in 2022, there were over 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer and 685,000 deaths from the disease. Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide, including in Thailand. According to data from the National Cancer Institute last year, more than 8,200 women in Thailand died from breast cancer, which averages to about 22 deaths per day. Additionally, approximately 22,000 Thai women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and this number is expected to rise. What is even more alarming is that breast cancer is now being detected in younger women, with the youngest patient being just 17 years old. This aligns with statistics from the Thanyarak Foundation under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, which indicate that breast cancer is most commonly found in women aged 40 to 49, accounting for approximately 41%. However, 18.6% of cases occur in women under the age of 39. This means that even women under 40 are at risk of developing breast cancer. Therefore, Thai women are encouraged to perform regular self-examinations of their breasts, as early detection can increase the chances of survival by as much as 95%, allowing them to live for another 10 years or more.
The “Train the Trainer” army of volunteers takes on the mission of defeating breast cancer right at home.
The sooner you know, the better the chance of survival. Educating women how to perform self-breast exams is crucial. For over three years, the Thanyarak Foundation, in collaboration with Rajabhat Universities across the country and True Corporation through True Plookpanya, has been developing volunteer leaders to combat breast cancer under the “Train the Trainer” strategy. The program provides training to enhance knowledge and skills (Up-Skill) and to review and refresh understanding (Re-Skill) of self-breast examination. In addition, it builds leadership skills, improves communication for public service, and teaches online media promotion techniques to over 11,300 professors and students from 38 Rajabhat Universities throughout Thailand. These trained volunteers have gone out to communities to carry out knock-door missions, educating more than 68,000 people across the regions on how to perform self-breast exams to screen for early abnormalities.
Equipping the mission with the BSE and VCOURSE applications
Another key tool in this mission is the use of technology through a digital self-breast examination recording system, implemented via the BSE (Breast Self-Examination) application. This app was developed in collaboration between the Thanyarak Foundation and True Corporation. It allows Thanyarak volunteers to teach and guide others on how to log their self-examinations through the app each time they perform them. This enables earlier detection, faster treatment, and ultimately increases the chances of survival. Moreover, the general public who are interested in learning basic information about breast cancer and self-breast examination can access this knowledge for free through the online learning platform, VCOURSE. Click here: https://vcourse.ai/en/courses/697.
Knocking on doors in communities to save lives and reduce the risk of serious diseases
Volunteer leaders from the Thanyarak Club, who have been upskilled, will immediately begin their challenging mission. Sharing his hands-on experience, Mr. Jakkrit Phonnongluang, a student volunteer from Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, who went into the field, said: “The knowledge I gained from participating in the program with the Thanyarak Foundation and True Plookpanya allowed me to use my skills to help others. One of the cases I encountered involved someone close to me. I taught them how to conduct an initial screening, and we discovered an abnormality in the breast. I immediately advised them to seek medical attention. Today, this person is under the care of a specialist. It makes me proud to have been part of helping in this case.”
Ms. Patcharaporn Puksuk, another student volunteer from Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University, also shared her experience of knocking on doors to visit households. “I am grateful for the program, which allowed me to closely monitor breast cancer patients. I demonstrated the correct self-examination techniques using a breast model and advised people to regularly check for symptoms. This helps prevent recurrence or, if the disease returns, ensures that patients can enter treatment promptly.”
Breast Cancer: The sooner it’s detected, the faster it can be treated
Every year on October 7th, World Breast Cancer Day is observed. The Thanyarak Foundation and True Corporation, through True Plookpanya, continue to campaign against breast cancer with the “Breasts Must Be Checked… For the Ones We Love” campaign. They recommend that all Thai women aged 20 and above perform monthly self-breast examinations. For women aged 35 and older, annual screenings using mammograms and ultrasounds are advised. The best prevention is early detection. For more information or to schedule a breast exam with specialists at the Thanyarak Breast Center, call 02-411-5657-9 or book an appointment through the Thanyarak Application. Additionally, the public is invited to raise awareness about breast cancer through the “Breasts Must Be Checked Pink Filter” activity. With three easy steps, you can edit your photo with a Pink Filter, share it on your social media, and include the hashtag. Click here: https://thanyarak.or.th/saveyourbreast/. You can also follow breast cancer awareness news at www.thanyarak.or.th or on the Thanyarak Breast Center Facebook page.
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