Welcome To BreastSens' Website
I am a mother, lawyer and person living with breast cancer. I started BreastSens to educate, empower and address cultural myths and taboos around breast cancer among Black South Africans. Unlike HIV/Aids - breast cancer is inadequately funded and publicised. As a result, many rural and urban poor women suffer and die unncecessarily from the disease. Often without ever being diagnosed.
I do not expect these women to visit this site. I hope YOU the reader will take time to peruse this site and decide to adopt BreastSens as your community upliftment project of choice. Please help me help our underprivileged brothers and sisters living with breast cancer.
Molebatsi Pooe-Shongwe - Founder BreastSens
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By: Molebatsi Pooe-Shongwe
Myths, outdated cultural beliefs, denial, fear and stigma - whether self-inflicted or community based abound and prevent many women from obtaining early diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. Our cultural heritage places a great pride on a woman's breasts. They are the awesome beauty of God's creation - the source of nourishment for suckling infants. Sexual gratification for men folk. Symbols of deep friendship for we speak of "bosom buddies." Breasts. Paragons of a woman's beauty, life nurturing and wondrous, rob thousands of women yearly of their lives. Breast cancer is real and we as a people ignore it at our peril. |
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Article From: Archives of Internal Medicine (JAMA/Archives).
A woman who puts on weight throughout her adult years has a higher risk of developing breast cancer, compared to a woman who has maintained a constant weight, according to an article published in Archives of Internal Medicine (JAMA/Archives). |
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Breast cancer patients 35 years old and younger have higher rates of their cancer returning after treatment than older women patients with the same stage of cancer. |
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Stories
Read experiences and impressions uploaded by visitors of this site. Share your own ones, we will do the spellchecking. Click here to submit your story with pictures. Click here to list all submissions.
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Dear Messrs. Carney & De Jongh,
I noted with great irony that the Harley Davidson brand was unwittingly dragged into a negative front page story in yesterday’s edition of The Star: HARLEY DAVIDSON bikes, a live band and plenty of booze. ADD Julius Malema then you have a potent and heady mix. The same is about to happen with Harley Davidson’s association with the Journey of Hope breast cancer ride.
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Commentary By Nana Kgosidintsi: It is a sad and tragic admission that black people remain on the margins of access to the excellent health care that is available in South Africa both in the public sector and private. |
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by Dr. Karin Mervis (37) mother and wife - On 16th August 2007 I underwent a bilateral mastectomy-voluntarily. Many commented how brave I was. It was not so much a brave decision I took but rather in my mind the only sensible thing to do...; |
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By Molebatsi Pooe-Shongwe - Meet Lucky an attractive 23 year old diagnosed with breast cancer last October. Hers is the new face of the disease - young and Black. The incidence of the disease is growing exponentially among women under 35 which is cause for grave concern. Unfortunately, there are no current statistics to chart how grave the pandemic is but doctors confirm that the face of the disease has certainly changed significantly over the past 5 years. (The current CANSA breast cancer statistics were compiled in 1999) |
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 By Nana Kgosidintsi - That Tuesday in April, started out like any other unremarkable spring day in Tunis, had it not been for the text message I still can’t erase... |
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 By: Maarten Jongmans. My mother's life has always been dedicated and committed to my sister, brother and I. All she cared about related to us - and HER HUSBAND. She does not have other interests or passions and as she never was into individualism, self-centredness, SELFISHNESS...
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 by Susan B. Markisz. I met Phyllis shortly after her diagnosis of breast cancer in 1993. Her sense of humor was evident even in those first dark moments. "I'd better slow down," she said, laughing through her tears. |
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By Molebatsi Pooe-Shongwe - The bath water was warm; bubble bath foam covered my body like a blanket. Soft music played in the background and the scented candles added to the ambiance of this delicious moment of personal indulgence. I massaged my body gently. My right breast and suddenly I felt it. A tiny none painful lump. |
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Note: Below is a personal letter from a male listener of SAFM who heard me speak about breast cancer and my bilateral mastectomy on an evening talk show. He called 5 minutes after I went off air and has become BreastSens' biggest and most loyal supporter. We have never met but have remained in regular contact for the last 15 months. |
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Molebatsi on CNN
BreastSens Joins "16 Days Of No Violence Against Women And Children" Campaign
 BreastSens in association with Sho- Sho- Lo- Za Cause Marketing has embarked on a national tour for NEDBANK educating women on their rights under the Domestic Violence Act - as part of the "16 Days of Activism Campaign." Click for details
Your Health & Legal Rights
Most patients often feel disempowered and voiceless when it comes to their rights as health care consumers. Click here for the Patients' Rights Charter as adopted by the Health Professionals Council Of South Africa (HPCSA) .
Touring Townships
 Molebatsi went on a national road trip to teach about breast health & reached 1 200 women. Read further
BreastSens' Supporters & Partners
Our Shared Vision: "Making Cancer A Priority By 2020"
Check Yourself
Early detection increases your chances of surviving breast cancer. Let us show you how to do a breast self-examination. Click here to watch the video.
Office & Contact Details
Ms. Molebatsi Pooe-Shongwe
Suite 21 Beaufort Square
44 Fricker Road
ILLOVO
2196
Gauteng, South Africa
082 424 6436/ 082 902 7929
BreastSens is incorporated under the Companies Act 61 of 1973, section 21.
Our Registration Number: 2007/ 032335/ 08
Banking Details: Nedbank Current Account, Account Name: BreastSens, Branch Code: 197 605 17, Account Number: 197 604 1112
(or click here to mail us)
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Become a member
Living with breast cancer can be a lonely experience. Become a member
of our community and enjoy the support of other people living with the
illness, their care givers and survivors Read moreClick here to register
Website award Nominee
This BreastSens website has been Nominated for SA's web design award
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