Louth nurse is travelling to Kenya to help cancer survivors

Local Breast Cancer Nurse Specialist Mary Keane is set to travel to Kenya this month with the mission of providing breast prosthesis and mastectomy bras to cancer survivors in the country.

Mary, from Blackrock, Co Louth, told how she was “acutely aware” of the amount of prosthesis and mastectomy bras that were being disposed of in Ireland that could give confidence and hope to women in developing countries who have survived breast cancer.

Mary came up with the idea of collecting prosthesis and mastectomy bras that were no longer of use to women here and bringing them to women that needed them in developing countries and so began her breast prosthesis and mastectomy bra fitting project.

Mary went to Ghana last October with 500 plus prosthesis and mastectomy bras and travelled to four teaching hospitals in Accra, Kumasi, Ho and Abor offering breast prosthesis/mastectomy bra fitting clinics and breast awareness education.

The majority of patients travelled for four to six hours to the clinics and for most of the ladies it was the first time ever having prosthesis or a mastectomy bra fitted with one woman saying “now I can feel like my old self again and can wear some of my old clothes again”.

Mary, speaking about the project in Ghana, said: “To be able to offer a small glimmer of hope in helping to restore some of the ladies body image by only providing a small service was an honour and a privilege for me”.

Following the successful initiative in Ghana Mary is travelling to Kenya in May where she will spend a month distributing hundreds of more prosthesis and mastectomy bras to female cancer survivors in rural locations; offering specialist breast prosthesis fitting clinics and lymphoedema (swelling of the arm) education to patients and staff with breast awareness clinics.

The dedicated volunteer is fundraising to help cover the cost of her travel for the project.

Mary, who worked in various hospitals in the UK and Ireland as a Breast Cancer Nurse Specialist for over 20 years and volunteered in the refugee camp in Calais said she “encountered many women who had no access to a breast prosthesis and didn't know it was an option”.

“I was acutely aware of the waste in the clinical setting with out-dated and used prosthesis and mastectomy bras being disposed of in the waste at every breast care fitting.

“The idea was borne out of the idea that surely some of these items could be reusable by ladies in developing countries”, Mary continued.

Mary explained that all ladies in Ireland who have had breast cancer surgery are entitled to one free breast prosthesis and two mastectomy bras per year while the grim reality for many patients in developing countries is they wear “plaster of paris, socks, plastic bags, face cloths and tights to create a breast form” after surgery.

Mary, speaking about how she developed the project, said: “I designed a poster campaign with some of the breast care suppliers with the goal of collecting used breast prosthesis and bras and reached out to some of the cancer support centres in Ireland.

“I travelled to the locations on a monthly basis and collected and stored the items safely.

“The response was overwhelming with most ladies delighted to donate items they had stored as some had had breast reconstruction or their body habitus had changed.

“Other ladies stated that they had always wondered why there was not a collection point for such items to donate to less fortunate patients.”

One woman in Ghana, who attended the prosthesis and mastectomy bra fitting clinic, said: “When seeing my body for the first time after the surgery, I only saw a scar, I felt that a precious part of my body was missing and I cried a lot. Now when I see this beautiful bra and shape I am excited about my life again.”

Following the success of the project in Ghana Mary is travelling to Kenya in May to replicate the initiative.

The average age of a lady being diagnosed with breast cancer in Kenya is 40 years old with the typical presentation to a doctor very late due to cultural,spiritual and religious considerations, according to Mary.

“This is within a context in which the resources and skill set for reconstructive surgery after mastectomy are not available to patients”, Mary continued.

“Women diagnosed with breast cancer in Kenya must often travel to have their Mastectomy surgery in a larger city and then return home to a rural location without aftercare or post Mastectomy products.”

Mary will work in Kenya with local NGO The Needy Cancer Health Initiative, which was developed by cancer survivor Nana Kilemi, and is “very much focused on helping people on the ground”.

Mary continued: “We will travel to rural locations offering specialist breast prosthesis fitting clinics,lymphoedema (swelling of the arm) education to patients and staff with breast awareness clinics.

“All clinics will be scheduled in advance of my trip and patients with any symptomatology will be notified to avail fully of all services provided.

“I am taking a month unpaid leave to spend time on this project and am self funding the trip. I would appreciate any donations to assist with the costs of the flights,vaccines and transportation of the items.”
To donate go to https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/MaryKeane