Breast Cancer survivors get assistance

At least 20 breast cancer survivors in Dominica will receive prosthetic breasts to enhance their appearance after surgery.

The items were donated by cancer survivor, Ruthine Romain Strindholm, who is a Dominican  residing in Sweden for the past 45 years.

She has been supporting the Dominica Cancer Association Inc for over ten years.

“I like helping and that is the small way that I can help,” Strindholm said at a presentation ceremony at the Cancer Society’s building in Goodwill on Thursday. “I try because I love Dominica and this is my contribution.”

She said she will continue to support the Cancer Society “once I have breath.”

“I try to live life fully and I treat people like how I would like them to treat me with respect and love,” she said.

Meanwhile President of the Dominica Cancer Society Inc, Vinna Royer, said the association is grateful for the donation since the breasts are very costly and most women cannot afford them.

“The packages are very beautiful and what is in it is very useful for the ladies who will receive them,” she said.

Royer invited other organizations and individuals to provide contribution to breast cancer survivors, “because the numbers are growing.”

“It is not a very happy thing to say, but we do have a number of women out there who are going down with Breast Cancer and who need to have this kind of support,” she stated. “This is one of the things women are traumatized about. What am I going to look like when I come out from this operation? And we hear of the stories of people not accepting themselves, of husbands not accepting their wives because of that.”

Royer said that the Cancer Society is also looking to develop partnerships with various groups to assist cancer survivors.