CAIRO - Changing a concept about breast cancer, based on fears, was the main goal of a ladies' golf club when organising its seventh breast cancer rally. This goal could be achieved by raising awareness and early detection. The rally was organised in collaboration with the Susan G Komen Foundation and held at the Katameya Heights Golf and Tennis Resort in Cairo. Board chairwoman Nadia Ziwar, who had survived cancer, happened to meet with a friend who was wearing a pink ribbon (related to fighting breast cancer). The friend was a member at the Susan G Komen Foundation, which was organising golf rallies in the United States to raise awareness about breast cancer. Ziwar got in touch with the foundation, which provided her with information on how to organise such a rally. "Then, I contacted the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt (BCFE),” Ziwar explained, adding that each rally participant paid LE100 (nearly $10) and the funds were channelled to women who needed mammograms. She added that the income from the rally wasn't much, but donations from the Bank of Alexandria and some petroleum companies increased it considerably. " A part of these funds are going to BCFE, another part to the National Tumour Institute and a third part to a chemotherapy unit at Kasr el-Aini hospital.” Ziwar pointed out that 80 women of different nationalities participated in the rally. They received information material, pink ribbons and golf pins in addition to special prizes, encouraging them to return in the coming years and bring their friends. Ziwar stressed that it was very important to detect breast cancer at an early stage and that psychological support was equally important. Dr Hanan Gewefel noted that current digital technology could detect a cancerous growth of only 3mm even before a patient could feel it. She stressed the importance of being aware of possible causes like family history, smoking, excessive weight and an unhealthy diet.
