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We all know that early detection and diagnosis can vastly increase your chances of surviving breast cancer, but many of us forget to regularly examine our breasts, or we don't know how.
This is why Jenny de Oliveira came up with the idea of creating a bra with a special lining that tells you how to properly check your breasts and what signs to look out for.
Jenny is the founder of CheckKnowPrevent, an NGO that promotes the early detection of cancer, which she manages alongside Debbie Gebhardt and Duncan Maclennan.
Jenny teamed up with Di Schonegevel, a veteran in undergarment construction, to design and create the Velisa Sports Bra as a constant reminder to do breast self-examinations.
The bra is named in memory of the organisation’s former ambassador, Velisa Sishuba, who lost her fight against breast cancer at 22. It is available in a range of styles and sizes.
“It was very important for Jenny that this be a South African product, so she got Di, who has over 20 years' experience, as our technical garment designer," Debbie tells YOU.
"Our bras are of the highest quality because we know that women wouldn’t buy a bra just for the message.”
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The bras are manufactured at a facility in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, by five local women who were all trained by Di.
“With every five bras we sell, we donate one bra to a Grade 11 or 12 pupil in need through our Adopt-A-School programme,” Debbie says.
The organisation is passionate about women's health and recently began hosting breast cancer workshops at schools in underprivileged areas of Cape Town.
At their first outreach programme at Beacon Valley High School in Mitchells Plain in March, all the girls in attendance were given a free bra and access to a breast examination by a nursing professional.
“When we got there, the girls were a bit hesitant to be examined by a nurse but by the end of our talk, they all wanted to be seen by a nurse, and that's all we want," Debbie says.
“We were shocked to find four girls that had irregularity in their breasts, and they all had to go for follow-ups. Of the four, one was determined to require further healthcare. It was an eye opener that this (detection) is a problem in our communities.”
The biggest misconception among the pupils, she says, is that breast cancer only affects older women.
Like many NGOs, CheckKnowPrevent's biggest challenge is obtaining funding “but we are grateful for the sponsors we just got”, Debbie says.
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In October, they’ll take their talks to six schools around Cape Town and will continue distributing their special bras thanks to a new partnership with a local human resources company.
The organisation is also expanding their support to breast cancer survivors.
“We've started producing and testing post-mastectomy bras that have larger pockets for breast cancer survivors with breast prostheses,” Debbie says.
Breast cancer can be beaten, she adds.
“Going for a mammogram once a year isn't enough, so wearing our bra acts as a frequent reminder to check your breasts all the time."
EXTRA SOURCE: CHECKKNOWPREVENT.COM
