This here’s about breast cancer. And whether you’re a woman or a man (because every one of those have women in their lives) you really ought to sit up, pay attention and read ’till the end. One in eight women in the UAE are diagnosed with breast cancer. This is frighteningly more common than we’d like to admit to ourselves. And yet, if found at an early stage and treated 98 percent of women will survive breast cancer.
The challenge we need to tackle then is not the cancer itself, because there’s no arguing who’d win that battle if it’s discovered too late. The challenge is tackling ignorance, and that is exactly what a handful of active, Abu Dhabi women are doing with Pink Fitness and Bosom Buddies.
Pink Fitness was inspired by Taghrid Khoury, who wanted to dedicate her Pilates classes to raising awareness of and funds for breast cancer. This was the birth of Pink Pilates which, with the generous contribution of many more brilliant women, was expanded to Pink Yoga, Pink Zumba and Pink Bootcamp classes, that all came to be known as Pink Fitness. To many, Taghrid is a continued source of inspiration – as a breast cancer survivor, a Pilates instructor, a mother and a friend.
‘You hear of women afraid of being tested or refusing to go for checkups,’ said Taghrid, when we asked her why she started Pink Fitness. ‘We need to assure them that there’s nothing to be afraid of, especially if you can detect the breast cancer in the early stages. That’s why it’s important that women get checked regularly, do an easy self exam at home and get to know their bodies. If everyone can alert their girlfriends, daughters and mothers and encourage them to have the mammograms and do the self checks, then many lives could be saved.’
Everyone hears and sees pink throughout October, but our awareness should not be relegated to just one month out of the year. The point of Pink Fitness is to maintain the dialogue about breast cancer prevention all year-round. At each class, teachers and participants share statistics and resources. Teachers also ask each attendee to encourage just one woman to get checked.
And what of women who have already been diagnosed? We asked Taghrid what advice she had to offer them? ‘Breast Cancer is something we can survive and live with. There’s no need to be afraid of it. Be positive, lead a healthy life, eat a balanced diet and get exercise. If exercise could be put in a bottle, it would be like the best medication for every ailment, and not just breast cancer.’
Among her recommendations for women who have already been diagnosed, Taghrid also highlighted the importance of support groups, and recommends Bosom Buddies. ‘It’s always helpful to talk to members for support and advice,’ she said. ‘When you see breast cancer survivors living a normal life, it gives patients hope and they get tips and advice on how to deal with the treatment and side effects.’
Bosom Buddies was founded by Gehan Wheeler and Noreen Kemp in 2003 as a private breast cancer support group. On the first Sunday of every month, its culturally diverse group of members meet to catch up and provide support and advice. ‘We also participate in diverse programs and activities,’ said member Melanie Gobert, when we caught up with her. ‘We host information booths at malls during the month of October, we participate in the Pink Walkathon and we give information talks at schools and for women’s groups.’
Like Taghrid, Melanie cannot stress enough the importance of checking and getting checked. She also recommends annual pap-smears. ‘Do not think that when you hear the words “tumour,” “oncology” or “cancer” that it’s a death sentence,’ she advised. ‘Many people recover completely from cancer nowadays thanks to advances in science and technology. It’s a very treatable disease, many people recover and go on to live full, productive lives.’
The next Pink Pilates class is on April 21, and henceforth on the first Saturday of every month. Pink Fitness classes are free of charge to breast cancer survivors and patients, Dhs40 if you come wearing pink and Dhs50 for everyone else. Please email ADPinkFitness@gmail.com for more info and to receive the monthly schedule for all classes. Taghrid Khoury does not benefit from the classes and the venue has been kindly donated by Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana. This allows all funds to go directly into a charitable venture in support of breast cancer patients. Bosom Buddies meets on the first Sunday of every month at Café Arabia from 7pm. Contact Gehan Wheeler (050 662 4716) or Melanie Gobert (050 668 7815).
