Agata Kornhauser-Duda made the appeal in a video message ahead of Poland's Mother’s Day on Friday, state news agency PAP reported.
'Breast cancer tests for mothers and others'
To mark the occasion, the country's Amazonki federation, which brings together women after breast cancer treatment, has organised a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the disease, according to officials.
As part of the “Breast Cancer Tests For Mothers and Others” project, women’s health activists were set to take to the streets of 97 Polish cities on Friday to educate women about ways to prevent breast cancer, President Andrzej Duda’s office said.
The first lady is the main face of the campaign, the PAP news agency reported.
In her video message, Kornhauser-Duda said: “When I decided to become an ambassador for women with breast cancer in Poland, I knew I would take part in many valuable initiatives.”
She hailed the “boundless energy” and “enthusiasm” of Polish activists in educating women about breast cancer.
The first lady added: “It only deepened my conviction to support this nationwide campaign, which is designed to spread awareness about ways to combat and prevent breast cancer.”
‘Cancer is not a sentence’
Kornhauser-Duda also said in her message: “Dear Polish women, I heartily encourage you to take part in the 'Breast Cancer Tests for Mothers and Others' initiative in all the cities where it will be held. You will have an opportunity on Mother’s Day to draw on expert knowledge about how to self-test for breast cancer and also how to persuade your grandmothers, mothers, daughters and friends to undergo breast cancer screening and prevention.”
The Polish first lady added that “early detection of breast cancer gives a good chance of recovery and return to normal life.”
“Let’s remember that breast cancer is not a sentence,” Kornhauser-Duda told Polish women.
The Amazonki federation, which brings together 209 local groups with a total of 26,000 activists, has been helping women with breast cancer for 30 years, the presidential office said.
The federation focuses on raising awareness about breast cancer, supporting Polish women during and after treatment, and teaching ways to prevent breast cancer, according to officials.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, prezydent.pl
