106 women in Burgas have had free breast cancer checks under the "Pass It On" campaign. The figures, up to 30 October, come from the Lady Bikers MPowered Bulgaria association, which runs the campaign.
Of the women examined, 24 were sent for an extra mammogram. Two were referred for a biopsy and two more for surgery. Checks on the rest mostly found benign changes. Some of these women will have further histological tests, which means examining a tissue sample. Doctors advised others to have follow-up monitoring and a repeat check in six months.
On 7 November a fourth place for checks opens in the city, the Burgasmed University Hospital. Dr Sabrina Yosifova, a trainee in medical imaging, will run the free breast cancer consultations there. The organisers will post an online sign-up form on the association's official Facebook page.
Breast cancer awareness is traditionally marked in October, but in Burgas the campaign runs into November. As last year, it started in the city at three places at once, with three doctors: Dr Tinka Arnaudova at Deva Maria Hospital, Dr Adem Hadzhimehmed at the El Masri diagnostic and consultation centre, and Dr Ani Dragolova at the Complex Oncology Centre in Burgas. The centre is taking part for the first time.
The organisers say Burgas stands out for the scale of its effort and the support of local doctors. They say each new doctor means more hours for checks and consultations, and more women reached by the campaign.
"Once again Burgas has shown us how much we can achieve when doctors, bikers, institutions and friends come together for one common cause," the organising team said.
Burgas council and the local biker community back the campaign, and the bikers have taken a more active part this year. The organisers say this means a lot to the women bikers, because it is one more chance for people brought together by a love of motorcycles to be together.
Prime Aesthetic Center – Burgas is a partner for the second year running. It gives every woman who is examined a voucher for a demonstration laser hair removal session for the underarms. Every participant also gets a pink bracelet to give to a woman they love, with a request not to put off a check-up.
The organisers thank the doctors who work for free, the medical facilities, the centre, the council and the biker community. They say every campaign takes a lot of organisation and voluntary work.
"For us, 'Let's help each other' is not just words. It is how we treat people, and a readiness to stand by them when they need us," the team added.
"Pass It On" is a national campaign that the association runs with the Bulgarian Society for the Fight Against Breast Cancer, with help from doctors, medical facilities and local supporters. It aims to help women in towns and villages across Bulgaria learn more about the disease and go for screening. Its motto is "Don't put it off. You matter. Pass it on!" The message passes from woman to woman and reaches families, friends, doctors, bikers and people who want to help.
In four years of partnership between the association and the society, more than 1,350 women in Bulgaria have had free checks and consultations.
The organisers advise every woman to talk to her family doctor or a specialist about which checks and tests suit her, because screening has no season.