TO ERADICATE BREAST CANCER AS A LIFE - THREATENING DISEASE

I never thought I would get breast cancer. It was a difficult period for me but with the help of my family, my support group at Breast Cancer Foundation, and my doctors, I have finally come to terms with my cancer and learnt to face it. More..
- Breast Cancer Survivor

BCF believes that members play an active role in education and raising awareness of breast cancer. Both men and women are encouraged to become members.

How BCF can help you

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The Breast Cancer Foundation strives to work closely with healthcare professionals in an effort to increase breast cancer awareness, as well as to provide support for those affected by the disease. We will be happy to help you and your patients in the following ways:


Support Groups

BCF Support Group members have said, “Being part of a support group can give a greater sense of connectedness and community ¡V a space to share and be heard.” The aim of all BCF Support Groups is to provide a safe, understanding, caring environment for people who have been affected by breast cancer to explore their emotions, ask questions, and share experiences, information and strategies they find useful in learning to cope with the disease. Each group holds monthly meetings that include sharing sessions, talks on relevant subjects (e.g. breast prosthesis fitting, stress management, and reconstruction), and outings to places of interest.

As a healthcare professional, you can encourage your patients & their family members to attend a BCF Support Group meeting. They do not need to register, but may wish to call BCF to confirm the meeting schedule. For details on the various support groups, please click here.

Volunteer Counselling Programme

As a medical professional, you can help your patients by referring them to the BCF Volunteer Counselling Programme. Make this a part of every breast cancer patient’s treatment package. BCF Volunteer Counsellors are breast cancer survivors who are at least 1 year out of treatment, have completed a basic counselling course (or equivalent), and have “shadowed” an experienced BCF Volunteer Counsellors for at least 2 months.

Hospital Visits

BCF Volunteer Counsellors can provide post-operative support for breast cancer patients and their families through personal hospital visits prior to discharge. These visits provide patients with emotional support as well as information on recovering from surgery, coping with treatment and available long-term support services. Follow-up is conducted by telephone throughout treatment.

Referral Procedure

Ensuring that your patient gets support from a BCF Volunteer Counsellor is as easy as one phone call!

  • Confirm the patient’s operation date.
  • Call the BCF Support & Volunteer Programme Department at 6352 6560.
  • Identify yourself and the hospital you are calling from.
  • Request a Hospital Visit from a BCF Volunteer Counsellor.
  • Provide the following information:
    • Patient name
    • Operation date
    • Discharge date (if known)
    • Operation type & side (ie. left mastectomy, right lumpectomy, bilateral mastectomy etc)
    • Patient age
    • Patient language (English, Mandarin, Malay, Dialect)
    • Patient ward & bed number

Using this information, BCF will match an appropriate Volunteer Counsellor with the patient and ask her to visit the patient in hospital (usually the day after surgery).

Telephone Counselling

A diagnosis of breast cancer raises a lot of questions, both for the woman and her husband and family members. Questions about treatment options, drug combinations, surgery risks etc are obviously best handled by you or your staff. However, BCF Volunteer Counsellors can share their personal experiences to discuss questions like¡KHow will I cope with the side effects that I might get from the various treatments? How will I deal with my “new figure”? Will my wife’s breast cancer affect our relationship? What would a reconstruction feel like? How can I help my wife when she’s sick?

If you feel that your patient, her husband or a family member would benefit from talking to a BCF Volunteer Counsellor, follow the Referral Procedure below.

Referral Procedure

  • Confirm the patient’s diagnosis.
  • Call the BCF Support & Volunteer Programme Department at 6352 6560.
  • Identify yourself and the hospital you are calling from.
  • Request Telephone Counselling by a BCF Volunteer Counsellor.
    • Provide the following information:
    • Patient name
    • Diagnosis
    • Operation type (if known)
    • Operation date (if known))
    • Treatment (if known)
    • Patient age
    • Patient language (English, Mandarin, Malay, Dialect)
    • Patient telephone (home/handphone)
    • Specific questions or issues to be discussed with the patient

Using this information, BCF will match an appropriate Volunteer Counsellor with the patient and ask her to call the patient. Follow up can be continued and a hospital visit can also be arranged.

Healing Through The Arts Programme

BCF’s Healing Through the Arts Programme can provide your breast cancer patients with an opportunity to participate in dance, yoga, etc.

BCF Library

The BCF Library has a variety of books etc in English and Mandarin from which your patients can get more information on breast cancer and how to cope with it.

BCF’s Positive Appearance Boutique

BCF’s Positive Appearance Boutique provides prostheses, bras, compression sleeves and wigs at competitive prices.

Awareness & Education

BCF has a range of free Awareness & Education materials for your office and patients. Contact BCF for bulk requests.

BCF can provide breast cancer survivors and BCF staff members to speak at seminars, conferences, training courses etc. Contact BCF for further information or to make arrangements.

BCF can provide counselling training for nurses. Contact BCF for course schedules and programmes.