Venezuela recently held a “Breast Cancer Prevention Day” that puts the U.S. pinkwashed “awareness month” to shame. On Oct. 19, numerous “hikes” or marches were held in cities across the country. These activities were followed by opportunities to engage in cultural and physical activity for women with and without cancer, as well as medical consultations.
The hikes were part of a campaign called “Homeland is a woman” being sponsored by the Ministry of Gender Equity, with the support of anti-cancer societies and other non-governmental organizations. Together, the campaign is promoting breast self-exam, which is an important low-tech way for women to become aware of potentially dangerous changes in their breasts, as well as providing care to women who already have the disease.
In addition, Women’s Minister for Gender Equity Andreína Tarazón explained to TelesurTV that these organizations are holding a national consultation on the care and prevention of cancer among women living with the disease. The results of the consultation will be forwarded to Pres. Nicolas Maduro.
So far more than 2,000 women have enrolled in the medical care program, and 1,500 have already received a box of necessary supplies including a mastectomy brassiere, breast prosthetic, lymphadema compression sleeves and wigs for those who lose their hair during chemo.
I think this is great and shows how a revolutionary society building socialism can meet the need of women battling cancer. I was very lucky to have pretty good insurance when I was diagnosed. Nonetheless, I was on my own to find a wig (I got a very ugly free one from the American Cancer Society that I never used, and ended up collecting a lot of hats and scarves that I wore to keep my head warm and protected). I was fortunate not to need any lymphadema products, but my insurance covers only 80 percent of my bras and prosthetic. Considering how expensive these can be, one is still left with a substantial pricetag.
I think there would have been something very comforting about receiving all these needed supplies in one care package, delivered by women volunteers from my community. That’s because one of the worst parts of going through cancer treatment is feeling isolated–even when lots of people let you know they care and bring you casseroles. Chemo seems to drag on forever (although I recently met a man who had chemo for a year for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma which made my 12 weeks seem like nothing) and you feel as if others must be tired of hearing about how sick and tired you are. The pressure is on to be a brave cancer fighter and only show your game face in public. Adding to this, I worked almost every day during chemo as I didn’t have enough sick days to take the entire time off. If I hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t have been able to pay my share of the treatment costs, which were still substantial after the insurance company paid its part.
Cancer in our capitalist U.S. society is seen as an individual problem, not a societal crisis. This prevailing belief system furthers the sense of isolation that women and others with cancer experience. Media coverage makes it seem as if you must have done something wrong to get cancer–you were overweight or ate non-organic vegetables. Nowhere on mainstream media will you hear about the role of environmental toxins in the breast cancer epidemic, or the need for a systematic overhaul of healthcare to both prevent and treat cancer.
So I am inspired by our sisters in Venezuela and wish them the best in their endeavors to improve the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
