Breast cancer: 1 in 19 Malaysian women at risk
Published on: Tuesday, October 10, 2023
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Juliah (centre) with the KPR organising committee for the Charity Gala Dinner who paid a courtesy call on her at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Sri Gaya.
Despite this concerning data and with no cure yet in sight, patients suffering from this disease may have a high survival rate through life-saving early detection.
However, with a lack of awareness and lack of funds, many women may only find out about the prognosis when their illness has progressed.
The quality of medical treatment and follow-up care can make a difference in how well cancer patients cope with the disease.
Kinabalu Pink Ribbon (KPR), a local NGO dedicated to breast cancer awareness, education and support, aims to alleviate the burden of additional financial stress by providing free halfway home lodging for cancer patients and survivors from other districts who are undergoing treatment in hospitals in the city.
The “Pink Haven” halfway home in Penampang has operated since September 2021. It has helped some 100 patients from all over Sabah who have stayed 350 days for the duration of their chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments.
Pink Haven is currently a rent-free house, but it is only a temporary arrangement with the landlord and would need to be surrendered upon request.
To raise funds for a permanent building of their own, KPR is organising a Charity Gala Dinner themed “A Time For Us” at the Magellan Sutera Harbour, here, on Oct 28, 2023.
Sabah Chief Minister’s wife Datin Seri Juliah Salag will be the guest of honour.
The dinner is part of KPR’s series of events in conjunction with the breast cancer awareness month or “Pinktober”.
It kicked off with the first-ever open water swim in Tanjung Aru Beach here on Sept 16, followed by the Miss International Malaysia corporate social responsibility breast cancer programme on Sept 28.
On Oct 6, KPR was also part of the launch of the hyperthermia machine, which uses thermal therapy to treat cancer, and will organise the inaugural Pinktober Walk in Keningau on Nov 4.
The dinner will see a special appearance by Miss Supranational Malaysia 2023 Deidre Walker, who is also the ambassador for breast cancer.
Guests and donors will also be treated to a line-up of entertainers including comedian Phoon Chi Ho, and local singers Eylia Guntabid (Star Voices Asia 2021 Indonesia Winner) and Fanzi Ruji (All Together Now Malaysia 2022 Finalist).
For more details of the event and to purchase tickets can contact the Kinabalu Pink Ribbon K-Line at 016-8038553, or visit Sabah Kinabalu Pink Ribbon’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sabahkpr/.
