We at Bellis and our mission
How do we help?
1. Psychological help and support for women with breast cancer
2. Projects and events for patients, their children and loved ones (therapeutic events, specialized lectures, fundraising events, “Back to Fitness” project and others)
3. Specialized counselling for patients and cooperation with experts
4. Breast cancer prevention – breast self-examination education, awareness campaigns, prevention counselling
5. The book “You Are Not Alone – A Guide to Breast Cancer”
“Bellis – Young Women with Breast Cancer” – a project of the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer focuses since 2012 on young patients (till 45 years old) that are going through or have gone through breast cancer treatment. This disease brings along many specific problems for younger patients in crucial areas of life (motherhood, pregnancy, getting back to work, partner relationships, children, breast reconstruction, self-esteem…). These may be impacted quite a lot with cancer treatment. Therefore, it is very important to share experiences and to support each other. Breast cancer is not very common at a young age and many women feel misunderstood. They can however find the understanding among other women that have heard the same diagnosis.
The main goal of this project is supporting young patients with breast cancer and offering help (professional and non-professional) during and after treatment. Project also focuses on finding new motivation and new impulses to help patients overcome their fears after treatment and to help them get back into social life.
An integral part of the project is also self-examination education. It is practically the only way to detect breast cancer early at a young age. Patients-volunteers, professionally trained by chief doctor Miroslava Skovajsová, teach women (and men) what to look for during self-examination and what can be a suspicious indication of the disease. You can look for educators during sporting or cultural events, in cafés, schools…
Education is important not only for the public but also for patients. That is why Bellis project team organizes regular Winter Therapy Retreat for patients and their families. Experts from different fields come here to give lectures (oncologists, OBGYNs, psychologists, surgeons, radiologists and other inspirational people).
Specialized lectures for women are prepared during the whole year. Webinars that focus for example on the psychological side of the disease have also become part of the education. The topics can be nutrition and diet, alternative treatment support such as aromatherapy, meditation, yoga…
To rest from the treatment or just to escape the everyday life, Bellis girls can join
Summer Therapy Retreat. These are foremost about relaxing and sharing information between patients.
“Back to Fitness” – a Bellis project focused on enhancing the physical fitness after treatment. A support group helps women to feel great again thanks to nature walks, running or swimming. Participation in running races and the support of a coach is no exception.
Fundraising Evenings each spring and autumn are a regular part of our calendars. The goal is to help women awaken their femininity and gain back their self-confidence that usually gets beaten up during cancer treatment. Professional make-up, hair dressing, outfit selection by a stylist and catwalk show in front of families, friends and public – this is the program of these events.
Bellis girls also join the traditional “Avon Walk” on regular basis. Here they help to spread awareness about breast cancer, a disease that is still not talked about as much as it needs to be. By selling small promotional items they raise money for education that can save lives.
The latest venture of Bellis is a long prepared book
“You Are Not Alone – A Guide to Breast Cancer”. Young patients share their own feelings and experiences with disease in order to help other women understand that the diagnosis does not have to mean the end of everything. Leading Czech experts from mammalogy, oncology, plastic surgery and psychology participated in creating this book. Along the expert information and personal experience, you can also find perspectives of patients’ partners, parents or children concerning the disease. The guide was published in February 2021.
