TEN Bulgarian women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, and more sadly, the great majority are diagnosed too late for any effective treatment. Referred to by physicians, along with AIDS and malaria, to be one of the scourges of the 21st century, breast cancer is curable if diagnosed in time.

Therefore, the International Women's Club (IWC) in Sofia are launching their third Breast Health Campaign (BHC) nationwide with a fund-raising five-kilometre run on October 3 at 11am in South Park in Sofia. The nationwide campaign against breast cancer is held under the patronage of First Lady Zorka Purvanova during the international month dedicated to the fight against cancer. The campaign focuses on bringing awareness to women and to all society and events are not only held in Sofia. A charity run on October 9 in Vidin starts at 11am from the centre of the town. There will also be a Gala Ball on the same day in Sofia at the Military Club at 8pm. The last event of the campaign is a charity concert by the Icelandic Men's Choir on October 17 at the National Theatre Ivan Vazov, 7pm.

The IWC explained that the campaign features two main targets - awareness for timely prophylaxis and purchase of a mobile mammography unit for rural areas and distant places in the countryside.

For Kathy Pardew, wife of the US ambassador to Bulgaria, the key points of the campaign also include education for women in rural countryside areas, increasing awareness for minority communities and improving services and education for all areas.

"Bulgaria is not Sofia - Sofia is my home and a beautiful international community, but I owe my efforts to the area beyond its boundaries," Pardew told The Sofia Echo. She added there are women who need her information and 'the effort of my heart'.

In 80 per cent of the cases of breast cancer patients in Bulgaria, the disease is diagnosed in its 3rd or 4th stage, while in European Union countries the same percentage is recorded for cancer discovered in an early 1st or 2nd stage. If it is detected in the early stages, the percentage of deaths associated with breast cancer is dramatically reduced.

Pardew believes that women in Bulgaria are well aware of the breast cancer and the need to access mammography. "I do believe that they must be better trained in breast self-exam. That is my primary focus," she said, adding that the first step in prevention is the awareness of one's own body. "We must be attuned to the changes in our body tissue to alert our physicians to changes. We are the first alert!" Pardew said.

It was for this reason that in 2002, Pardew and Emma Hernandez, wife of the outgoing Spanish ambassador to Bulgaria, joined forces with the International Women's Club of Sofia, of which they are both members, and the Ministry of Health, to promote a breast awareness campaign.

Pardew became involved in the BHC in Washington DC because of friends and family that suffered from the disease. "We always participated in the Susan Komen five kilometre run, and with other initiatives that promoted women's health," Pardew said.

Ann Stewart, IWC member, active organiser and participant in the campaign, got involved with BHC last year when a message was circulated through the IWC that there was going to be a meeting for anyone interested in getting involved in the campaign. Stewart had fairly recently arrived in Sofia and found herself, for the first time, without a job, she said, so she came to the decision that she should spend some of her newly found free time profitably, albeit unpaid. "Of course it's a real plus to do so in such congenial company," she said, adding that the fact that it was mainly a women's problem appealed but was not a deciding factor. "Also, whereas in other countries I found a way into the society through work, this was a way to do the same in Bulgaria," Stewart said.

A similar feeling was shared by IWC president Maria Novak. She said "we are extremely grateful that the campaign is widely supported by people for a third year". She added that this initiative has helped and will continue helping more and more women realise the importance of this problem.

"Last year's campaign was very successful in drawing attention to the need for education and the need for a comprehensive screening program developed by the Ministry of Health," Pardew said. Stewart outlined some of last year's results of the campaign mentioning greater awareness of the fact that if caught earlier enough, it is possible to survive breast cancer; much greater awareness of the need to take responsibility for one's own health through self checks; greater openness in discussing the problem and even more informed medical professionals. Stewart said of one GP in a small town had said he hadn't realised he could refer women for mammograms. It was obviously benefiting health professionals to better assist patients. Meeting other people involved in breast health awareness, especially 'JZOSTS - the Breast Cancer Survivors' Association and more pressure on the authorities to provide facilities, were also among the positive results of last year's campaign.

According to Pardew, women in Bulgaria are well aware of the need for screening for breast cancer. "They are attuned and educated to the need for screening beyond the age of 40 years," she said. "However, they are frustrated by the lack of access to health care and the ability to find the appropriate path to care for themselves," Pardew said.

Stewart advises that any woman diagnosed with breast cancer should contact JZOSTS or other patient associations for counselling and support. "This will help them with the most difficult problem - that of developing a positive outlook, which can really make a difference. You'll meet women who have been through it and come out smiling. And not matter how unbelievable it may sound, you can do the same!" she said. All those supporting the BHC initiative identify themselves by wearing pink ribbons on their lapels.