Our speaker on Thursday January 19 in Chapala was a representative from Mujer Sin Cancer, an organization fighting against breast cancer. It’s a serious problem in Mexico, with about 18 women a day dying of the disease. She gave a talk about a simple but innovative breast exam pad used to help detect breast cancer. Mammography generally cannot see small tumours in women before age 40. Generally a tumour needs to be 2-3 cm in size to be noticeable by touch. But by that time, it’s typically past Stage 1 or 2, where treatment is relatively straightforward. With this soft plastic pad the fingers can detect a lump 5 to 10 times easier - and when it’s much smaller. This has been used in Europe for 15 years or more, and, two years ago, it was introduced to Mexico.
Demonstrating the effectiveness of the pad with grains of table salt.
Their aim is to inform women in communities across the country about the importance of self-examination and how much more accurate it can be using this tool. They’ve already provided the Secretary of Health and DIF with detailed information about the device.
If a woman has Seguro Popular Insurance and she detects a lump, the volunteers at this organization (funded by many corporations) will take her to a private hospital in Guadalajara (such as San Javier) for treatment. (They are not working with IMSS, where it may take 6 months to get treatment.) Sadly, Mexican husbands often forbid their wives to see a doctor regarding breast examination. Their free self-test package is very important to the health of these (often poor) women. The group’s sponsors pay the 600-peso cost for each package, with some discounts available for volume purchases. Th group’s aim is to educate and help treat women and, so far, they’ve treated 1,300 women, all paid for by the group.
Sheila noted that there now is new mammogram equipment at the Chapala Clinic.