Cancer de Mama Clinic 2012 Sets Record Tara A. Spears - Jaltemba Sol
February 7, 2012

In just three days, 461 women breast cancer survivors were welcomed with hugs, smiles, and compassion by over 250 national and international volunteers to the annual Cancer de Mama Clinic at the La Penita RV park.

The women clients traveled from all over the state of Nayarit and from the neighboring state of Jalisco to be fitted with complimentary breast prostheses, modified bras, wigs for chemo patients, hats, scarves, cosmetics, clothing, and a delicious hot lunch.

Everywhere one looked were smiles and a spirit of hope - many of the returning clients joyfully greeted volunteer friends; the women who where there for the first time soon lost their apprehensive look as they were kindly guided through the process.

This year's clinic owes its success to the hundreds of caring individuals who donated money, prostheses, knitted  prostheses, food, vehicles, clothing, and most importantly their time. Without the organizational guidance of the Cancer de Mama Clinic executive committee, this huge undertaking could not have flowed so efficiently and helped so many - thank you ladies for your yearlong commitment!

A wonderful development this year is the active participation of our Mexican sisters, working in all areas from fitting clients, to data entry, to beauty shop, sewing, and in the food prep. There was a whole lot of Spanglish going on, to the betterment of all.

"The volunteers came from all over the Jaltemba Bay area, not just the RV Park," said Pat Cutshall, committee co-chair. "A few just walked in, rolled up their sleeves and did what needed doing."

A repeat donor is the Los de Marcos ladies that bake and prepare yummy food that they deliver to the clinic. Lots of men participate and support the clinic in myriad ways - driving the shuttle vehicles up and down the hill and helping prepare the food.

Each client that attends the clinic is given cancer support literature in Spanish, one commercially produced breast prosthesis from Canada, several bras with pockets, knitted tit bits for swimming, head coverings as needed, besides having access to the "free store" clothing and shoes. "All of the store items that remain after the clinic are given to the local agencies to give to the poor," explained Irene. "All donated items are put to good use."

What the Statistics Mean

While the Jaltemba area coming together to help the high number of Mexican women with breast cancer is honorable, why there is a need for such a clinic is horrible.

According to a 2009 report by the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica (the federal health agency:) "The fact that we did not observe a reduction in death rates in mortality in any age group but only that rates stopped increasing in most of them suggests that the costs of reribbon exam therapy have precluded its use in uninsured lower socioeconomic status. Mexican women suffering from the disease. The Mexican health insurance program for the poor (seguro popular) has only recently incorporated breast cancer treatment in its coverage."

Despite the existence of official recommendations for breast self-examination and mammography since the early 1990's, screening insurance coverage has been very limited. Breast cancer cases continue to be detected by women themselves in 90% of instances - it is after the fact that they seek health care for cancer treatment at an advanced stage.

A national survey conducted in 2006 indicates that only 16% of Mexican women had a breast cancer screening procedure (mammogram). Dr. Francisco Franco-Marina states that "An increase in BC mortality in Mexico is expected in the following decades. Therefore, mammography screening programs and timely access to effective treatment should be a national priority to reverse the expected increasing breast cancer mortality trend in Mexican women."

To address the need to have a no-cost mammogram available to the rural women living near the Jaltemba Bay area, the annual Walk for Cancer Prevention, February 14, 2012, is working towards getting a mammogram machine in La Penita.

Accolades

A heartfelt thanks goes out to all who contributed to preparing, setting up, and operating the 2012 Cancer de Mama Clinic. We wish a healthy year to all of the 461 brave women survivors of breast cancer and their families.

  Learn about Cancer de Mama Clinic