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On Wednesdays, we wear pink: breast cancer awareness programme by Indira Cancer Trust

06 Jan 2021

By Venessa Anthony   [caption id="attachment_112462" align="alignright" width="233"] Former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain and ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Roshan Mahanama[/caption] Last october, in lieu of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Indira Cancer Trust, together with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) of the Ministry of Health, launched the TLC (Touch, Look, Check) campaign for breast cancer, to spread awareness about a disease that affects nearly 4,000 women each year in Sri Lanka. Awareness surrounding breast cancer is incredibly important as early detection, often through screening, can detect the disease when it's treatable.  The Indira Cancer Trust along with the NCCP launched their latest awareness programme, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink” with former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain and ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Roshan Mahanama coming on board to support this cause on 6 January.   Mahanama, commenting on why he chose to speak up on this topic, said at the event: “If you want to do social service, make a contribution to the less privileged, contributing with money is not the only way. Your knowledge, energy, time, effort, networking, and I would say, I put money last. You need to need to have the heart to do it. You need to come forward to do it with all good intentions and not to get something out of it. That is why I chose to speak up.”    [caption id="attachment_112461" align="alignright" width="221"] Indira Cancer Trust Trustee and Chairperson Dr.Lanka Jayasuriya Dissanayake[/caption] Why pink?   The colour pink was decided on in 1990 in the US, when a breast cancer survivor by the name Charlotte Haley began sending out peach-coloured ribbons to raise awareness. Funding ran out, and coincidentally the Susan G. Komen Foundation was handing out pink visors at a racing event and then the colour pink was decided on.  Mahanama commented that he has been trying his level best with the limited number of pink shirts he has to raise awareness for this cause. “On a Wednesday to remind myself about my mother, my wife, and my daughters, to remind myself that they could be a victim one day, I wear pink. I need to get this message across.” He added that for the past few years, he's been doing it silently, but now he urges the public to come together and make this disease known. “We need to get this message across to the females in our lives and females of this country.”   He talked about the time he picked the slogan “On Wednesdays, we wear pink”. “I remember a crass comment made by one of the presidential candidates. Before the 2019 presidential elections, my second daughter who is a doctor, told me I had a responsibility and questioned how they could ridicule the women of this country. I was tagged or labelled as a person from a particular party. I have not gone on any political stage but I came forward to speak because I had a responsibility to stand up for women in this country.” He added that men need to come forward without fear or favour when they need to make known their opinion.    [caption id="attachment_112463" align="alignright" width="237"] NCCP Director Dr.Janaki Vidanapathirana[/caption] What is TLC?   Touch, Look, Check is a breast cancer awareness message that encourages women to examine themselves for skin texture, rash or crusting, nipple discharge, the appearance or direction of your nipple, or a lump on your breast. Indira Cancer Trust Trustee and Chairperson Dr. Lanka Jayasuriya-Dissanayake revealed the concerning amount of breast cancer cases in Sri Lanka. “Per day there are 10 new diagnoses and three deaths of breast cancer. There are over 3,500 new diagnoses per year and 26% of Sri Lanka's women experience this disease.” She noted that by conducting a self-examination 10 days after your period, will help in early detection so a cure is possible.  Breast cancer, if detected early, is not a cause for concern, and she urges all women to take care of themselves and their loved ones.    For more information, visit their Facebook page: @indiracancertrust   Photos by Eshan Dasanayaka

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