Breast Cancer Prevention Roundtable

Helping Women Take Charge of their Health

Project Kesher activist Rebecca S. has made it her job to help women in Moldova become better educated about how to protect their health. In working to create greater awareness among women in her region of the CIS about breast cancer prevention she also discovered the importance of being proactive about her own health.

At Project Kesher Jewish text-based training program─Beit Binah─ Rebecca was inspired to take the lessons she learned there about the importance of living healthy lives and apply them to the needs of women in her community and in the entire region of Moldova. She realized that women's health was an issue that was not getting the attention it needed from the people and organizations that could make a positive impact nor from the media that influences women's behavior.

On January 23, 2011 Rebecca pulled together a multi-cultural roundtable meeting on women's health at the Moldovan Bureau of Multi-Ethnic Relations with more than 50 participants representing 10 national communities, medical centers and clinics, NGO's, as well as local medical, legal and family and children's support leaders. Media also covered the gathering─a first of its kind according to several community leaders who attended the event.

In thinking through how to approach the planning for the roundtable, Rebecca decided that if she expected those participating to pay more attention to breast cancer prevention, she ought to lead by example. Rebecca scheduled her first-ever physical examination including a mammogram and consultation with a gynecologist which uncovered a medical condition that required immediate attention. Fortunately, Rebecca was quickly and successfully treated for her condition and she has used her experience to motivate other women to take charge of their health.

The roundtable attendees left with plans to keep the issue of breast cancer prevention and other women's health issues front and center in their communities. Plans are underway to conduct breast cancer information programs using Project Kesher materials in work and community settings; to provide women with information on where they can get free mammograms; to conduct more roundtable meetings and educate more people; and to encourage greater coverage about breast cancer prevention by the media.