What is BCF First Screen Fund?

Over the past 9 years, BCF has supported women from low household income families for their mammogram screenings. According to the National Population Health Survey, only 37.9% of Singapore women, aged 50 to 69 years have gone for mammography in the last 2 years.

In 2022, BCF set up a designated fund called the BCF First Screen Fund to support this group of women to give them free access for the 1st mammogram screening at the government polyclinics. BCF will collaborate with the Health Promotion Board as the administrator to manage and disburse the screening subsidies. This scheme is offered to women aged 50 years and above, who hold a blue or orange Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Card.

The programme is launched broadly under the guidelines of BreastScreen Singapore (BSS) and in partnership with Health Promotion Board (HPB), National Healthcare Group Diagnostics (NHGD) and SingHealth. It will be disseminated through our community partners.

Why the BCF First Screen Fund?

Women form 50% of the ageing population in Singapore. As most households are supported by dual incomes, a woman’s role is significant for the well-being of her family as well as society at large.

Women in the low-income group lack awareness and financial means to go for regular mammography. Hence, they do not view mammogram screening as a priority. With the systematic building of awareness through public education, BCF hopes to achieve the mission of saving lives and breasts.

Eligibility Criteria for BCF First Screen Fund

How can I make an appointment to schedule a subsidised mammogram screening?

You may call any of the following BreastScreen Singapore (BSS) screening centres:

What do I need to prepare prior to a mammogram screening appointment?

Bring along your NRIC and Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) card.

What can I expect after a mammogram screening?

You should receive your results 4 weeks after your screening date.

To encourage more women to go for a mammogram screening, Singapore Cancer Society (SCS), Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF), and National Healthcare Group Diagnostics (NHGD) are making such screening more affordable by providing funding assistance through a ‘Community Mammobus Programme’ starting from 1 February 2018.

Subsidised Rate for Mammogram on Mammobus

Who should go for Breast Screening?

• Women aged 40* years old & above (Singapore Citizen & Singapore PR)
• Have not gone for mammography in the last:
  • 12 months (40-49 years old)*
  • 24 months (50 years old & above)
• Have no breast symptoms such as breast lumps or nipple discharge
• Have not been breastfeeding for the past 6 months
• Not pregnant

(Note: Patients with mobility aids are advised to have their mammogram screening done a breast screening centres.)

*Women aged 40 to 49 years old can screen for breast cancer but they should talk to their doctor about the benefits and limitations of mammograms in this age group so that they can make an informed choice about going for screening.

How can I book for Mammogram Screening on Mammobus

• Book the Mammobus for community / corporate events or complementary breast cancer awareness talks alongside a Mammobus screening, e.g. Health Screening Day, Staff Wellness Day, Family Day
  Contact BCF at 6352 6560 or email enquiries@bcf.org.sg
• Click HERE to register for Mammobus screenings organized by BCF.
• For a full list of Mammobus deployments, click here.

Pre-registrations are required and slots are limited on a first-come-first-served basis.

Each group holds monthly online meetings that include sharing sessions, discussions on relevant subjects (e.g. exercise and nutrition, surgery and treatment journey). Our support groups are exclusive for survivors and caregivers.

• English Speaking Support Group (inclusive of English, Expatriate, Malay & Indian)
• Mandarin Speaking Support Group
• Caregivers Support Group (integrated with Men’s Support League)
• Advanced & Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group
• Young Women’s Support Group

Note: English Support Group is combined with Malay, Indian, Expat Support Group and it is conducted in English.

All sessions are currently conducted on Zoom, due to the COVID-19 situation.

• 2nd Saturday of the month: 10 – 11.50am

Details are subject to changes. For further enquiries, please call us at 6352 6560 or email membership@bcf.org.sg.

Volunteer Befriending
Programme

BCF’s Volunteer Befriending Programme aims to assist women diagnosed with, and survivors of Breast Cancer as well as family members and friends to cope with their feelings and to regain a sense of control over important aspects of their lives.

Volunteer Befrienders, all of whom are breast cancer survivors themselves, provide information and emotional support through the breast cancer journey.

Asking questions about breast cancer can be difficult. BCF’s Volunteer Befrienders, have experienced the ups and downs of breast cancer and are prepared to answer any question you may have. Give us a call today!

Hospital Visit Programme

[TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19]

The Hospital Visit Programme offers women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer with personal visits by BCF Volunteer Befrienders before discharge. The visits provide patients with emotional support and much needed information on recovering from surgery, coping with treatment, and available support services where follow-up is conducted primarily by telephone.

Regular hospital visits are conducted to several of the major hospitals, and ad hoc visits can be arranged to any hospital in Singapore. If you would like to arrange for a BCFVolunteer Befrienders to visit a post-operative breast cancer patient, please contact BCF.

Hotline: 6356 0123

[TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19]

Unique to BCF, BEEP is an integrated programme series conducted through workshops that tailors to different members from all walks of life who may be affected by the diagnosis of breast cancer, or play an important role in the journey of affected women.  It aims at building the right support context with sharing sessions conducted by professionals such as dieticians, medical doctors and exercise trainers to educate and empower participants with the knowledge and skills to build a more supportive environment for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

A Certificate of Completion, accredited by BCF, will be awarded upon successful completion of the full programme.

For more information, please contact our Team in Programmes, Support Groups, Volunteers & Members (PSVM) at 6352 6560 or email us at membership@bcf.org.sg

BEEP1 – Women diagnosed with, and survivors of breast cancer
Helping survivors regain their optimum lifestyle after breast cancer

• Self-management skills
• Lifestyle changes
• Relaxation and stress management
• Cancer treatment and side effects
• Pain perception

BEEP2 – Caregivers and families
Caregivers will learn the right support techniques to help survivors through every stage

• Listening and responding skill
• Practical and emotional support
• Talking to children about cancer
• Cancer and relationships
• Mindfulness training
• Supporting patients through loss

BEEP3 – Volunteers and staff of VWOs and hospitals
Enhancing volunteer counselling and support skills

• Understanding self
• Understanding perceptions
• Time and stress management
• Listening and responding skills
• Communicating significant news

BEEP4 – For corporations and Human Resource (HR) Management
Helping corporations and Human Resource professionals be well informed and well placed to render timely support

• Hearing first person accounts
• Psychological support
• Listening and responding skills
• Pain management
• Providing comfort to patients

The Positive Appearance Scheme provides sponsorship for prostheses and bras for lower-income women diagnosed with, and survivors of breast cancer. It is only available at government run, restructured hospitals.

The following are the criteria:

• Women who have had mastectomy surgery at least 3 months prior (so as to allow time for the surgery stitches to heal – the application can be submitted earlier)
• Patients must be referred by their hospital’s Medical Social Worker (MSW)

Those who qualify for it could approach their medical social worker for more information on the application for the scheme.

[FULLY SPONSORED]

The Wig Loan Programme enables women diagnosed with, and survivors of Breast Cancer to borrow wigs.

[EXCLUSIVELY FOR BCF MEMBERS]

The Pink Talks are conducted for the purpose of educating and empowering our members with knowledge that is necessary for them to lead a well-informed life.

All sessions are currently conducted on Zoom, due to the COVID-19 situation.

• Every Last Wednesday of every month: LIVE from 1 – 2pm, Re-play from 8 – 9 pm

BCF’s Healing Through The Arts (HTTA) Programme provides women diagnosed with, and survivors of breast cancer with an opportunity to help themselves in their short and long-term recovery. These activities are conducted by BCF Volunteers, most of whom are either breast cancer survivors or professionals in their respective fields.

Contact us at 6352 6560 to find out more and participate in the classes.

Paddlers in the Pink

The BCF Paddlers in the Pink (BCF-PIP) Dragon Boat Programme, the first of its kind in Asia when it began, involves dry land and paddling training for breast cancer survivors and supporters. BCF-PIP, one of several BCFs Healing Through the Arts Programme, enables participants to improve their physical and mental well-being as well as demonstrate that women living with breast cancer can continue to lead full, active lives.

The criteria to join BCF-PIP are as follows:

• One must be above 18 years old
• One must be either a breast cancer survivor, friend/family of a survivor
• One must be at least 3 months out of treatment (other than hormonal therapy)
• One must have a medical memo that shows that she is fit to join in the paddling