Bangkok--3 Aug--DC Consultants & Marketing Communications
ICC International Plc, the distributor of products under the Wacoal brand, pushes ahead with its "Wacoal Pink Ribbon" breast cancer awareness campaign for the 15th consecutive year to keep women in Thailand safe from breast cancer. As part of the campaign, the "Wacoal Cares For Your Breasts, Mammogram Saves Your Life" activity is held for the sixth year running and customers who hold the His & Her membership cards and spend 12,000 baht in accumulated purchase during July through October 2015, are offered a free mammogram at any of the 25 participating hospitals within the end of December 2015.
Thamarat Chokwatana, ICC Internationa Plc's President and Vice Executive Chairman, said Wacoal Pink Ribbon continues to be one of the Wacoal's major campaigns and this year it will be actively raising Thai women's awareness of the danger of breast cancer while using print materials and other media to educate them on the correct breast self-examination as well as on the mammogram and ultrasound examination which are currently recognised as the most effective screening method for breast cancer.
"Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among Thai women, and it has been found in more and more people under 40 every year," he said. "In this 15th edition of the Wacoal Pink Ribbon campaign, we are determined to continue encouraging Thai women to do mammogram. But basically it is important that they keep themselves in good health, check their breasts by hand every month and receive a mammogram every year, particularly for people aged 40 and above and people aged down to 35 who has a family history of breast cancer. Mammogram is capable of detecting cancer at its very early stage, the size as small as two millimetres, and this disease can be completely cured if diagnosed early and treated promptly."
Dr Thiravud Khuhaprema, Director of Wattanosoth Hospital, said there has been no research results that identify the exact cause of breast cancer, though it has been found that genetic mutation is a factor for breast cancer in young people, and other risk factors include fatty foods, obesity, alcoholic drinks and lack of exercise.
"Breast cancer cases have been increasingly found and all women are at risk, so the best prevention is early detection," he said. "The best way of screening to date is by mammography and ultrasound examination, which can detect such cancer at early stages, allowing more likelihood for the disease to be cured than when it grows bigger or is spreading. This campaign is committed to raising awareness of breast cancer among women nationwide and I would like to encourage every woman to help spread the word to your female friends and take better care of your health."
According to Dr Weerawut Imsamran, Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), cancer is one of Thailand's major public health issues. The institute's data shows that 10,193 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, accounting for 20 per cent of female cancer incidents. The incidence rate and mortality rate have also risen over time, with the current annual incidence rate standing at 13,000 persons and mortality rate at 3,261 – or 9 deaths a day. Data indicates that breast cancer can develop in people aged as young as 20 years, and the occurrence increases with age to a peak at age 50-55 years.
He said: "Mammography can detect irregularities of the breasts caused by cancerous tissues. It is more efficient, faster and more accurate in detecting the early development of breast cancer, enabling effective treatment and lower medical expenses. However, a shortage of relevant budgets and resources means that mammographic examination cannot be provided for all people, so voluntary screening has been the ongoing approach.
"By offering the opportunity to receive mammographic examination, the Wacoal Pink Ribbon campaign is expected to help alert the public and increase the proportion of people with access to breast cancer screening. We also hope that the campaign will encourage the private sector to play a bigger part in public health care so that the Thai people will be healthy and safe from breast cancer."
Dr Weerawut also introduced the NCI's newly established Breast Cancer Centre that meets international standards and will have a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatments for breast cancer patients in Thailand. ICC International Plc and Thai Wacoal Plc had also contributed funds for its foundation.
Through a collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, provincial cancer hospitals, the Department of Medical Services, and Bangkok Hospital Group, the "Wacoal Cares for Your Breasts, Mammogram Saves Your Life" activity offers breast cancer screening by mammogram and ultrasound service to Wacoal customers who holds its His & Her membership cards. Customers with an accumulated purchase value of 12,000 baht between 1 July and 31 October 2015, will receive a privilege card for one mammogram and ultrasound examination free of charge at one of the 25 participating medical facilities within 31 December 2015.
Participating hospitals are Wattanosoth Hospital, Bangkok Hospital Chinatown, Bangkok Hospital Phrapradaeng, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Bangkok Hospital Rayong, Bangkok Hospital Chanthaburi, Bangkok Hospital Trat, Bangkok Hospital Khon Kaen, Bangkok Hospital Udon, Bangkok Hospital Ratchasima, Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai, Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin, Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai, Bangkok Hospital Phitsanulok, Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, Samitivej Thonburi Hospital, Mahavajiralongkorn Cancer Center, Chonburi Cancer Hospital, Lopburi Cancer Hospital, Lampang Cancer Hospital, Ubonratchathani Cancer Hospital, Udonthani Cancer Hospital, Suratthani Cancer Hospital and the National Cancer Institute.
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