“Every person wearing pink shirts carried a very simple message to another woman – take care of yourself and do not postpone the check-up. At the same time, this pink wave is about togetherness. About women who support each other, families, friends, colleagues, and everyone who reminds, encourages, accompanies to get checked, or is there when it is most needed,” says Ilona Skardinskienė, chairwoman of “Blooming Hope.”
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Early diagnosis saves lives
The focus of “Blooming Hope” on early breast cancer diagnosis began a week before the marathon. An early breast cancer diagnosis initiative was held in Lukiškės Square, during which 223 women were checked for free. One day of the check-up was dedicated to Ukrainian women living in Lithuania, and the initiative was joined and supported by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania, Olha Nikitchenko.
Specialists found suspicious changes in three women who participated in the check-up, so they were referred for further examination. According to the organizers, such cases best demonstrate why it is important to create as many opportunities as possible for women to get checked even when they do not feel clear symptoms.
“We are glad that 223 women got checked that day. Each of them took time for their health, and three were recommended to undergo more detailed tests. This clearly shows the meaning of such initiatives and reminds why preventive check-ups should not be postponed,” says I. Skardinskienė.
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It is important to remember prevention not only in October
At the Vilnius marathon, the initiative participants chose a 4-kilometer walk. Unlike in sports distances, this time the most important thing was not the finish time or result – the group wearing pink shirts aimed to be visible and at the same time draw as much attention as possible to breast cancer prevention.
After the walk, the communication moved to the “Blooming Hope” space in the marathon village. Here visitors could meet with the initiative representatives, and doctors from the National Cancer Center also joined them. A live conversation with specialists provided an opportunity not only to hear a general call to get checked but also to ask important questions about breast health and early disease detection.
According to I. Skardinskienė, such public events provide an opportunity to remind a wider part of society about the importance of breast cancer prevention and early diagnosis. Especially much attention is paid to this topic in October, observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when various initiatives encourage women to pay more attention to their health and get regular check-ups. However, prevention should not be limited to one month – taking care of your health is important all year round.
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