Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Breast Cancer Foundation next year, president Staphnie Tang shares its vision for the future—starting with a Breast Cancer Centre to provide a safe space for members
When Staphnie Tang discovered a painful lump in her breast in April last year, she did not hesitate to see her doctor, even though it was at the height of Singapore’s Circuit Breaker period to stem Covid-19. A mammogram and scan were immediately ordered for her the next morning.
It wasn’t the first time that she had gone through such scans, but the wait was agonising nonetheless. Cancer had struck close to home for Tang before; her father passed away from the disease, and so did his two brothers. “I memorised the last months, days and hours of my late father’s [life] and know life’s brevity,” she shared with friends in a Facebook post three days after her cancer scare.
Tang was thankfully given the all-clear, but the episode reminded her of the importance of the work of the Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF), of which she became president in January last year when founding member Noor Quek retired. “Why didn’t I check myself regularly? What if I don’t know who to go to? What if I don’t have enough money to pay for the scan and mammogram? What if the results are positive?”—those are the what-ifs many like her might grapple with, she says.
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An advocate of the early detection of breast cancer since 1997, BCF also provides support for the breast cancer community. The social service agency has introduced various initiatives, including counselling, support groups and befriender programmes for women diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as their caregivers. It also provides rehabilitative support, such as helping members rebuild positive body image with wig loans, and sponsorship for post-mastectomy bras for lower-income women.
Tang is leading the organisation into the next stage, as it reaches its milestone 25th anniversary in 2022, building on the work of her predecessors. Last January, she shared her vision for BCF to have a Breast Cancer Centre, an integrated space for the breast cancer community to gather in a safe and non-medical environment. This first of its kind centre is located at Sin Ming Court in Bishan and opened last month, offering a comprehensive and holistic suite of support programmes and services.
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