Pink Monday project to aid cancer survivors

By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff ReporterA group of four women is championing an initiative to assist cancer survivors by providing them support through beauty therapy after cancer treatment, Gulf Times has learnt.The group which includes senior Al Jazeera news executives and Embellie Spa director Emike Umolu, yesterday inaugurated Pink Monday.The programme aims to bring women together for fun, sharing beauty tips and raising awareness of breast cancer, especially with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.During the event, held in two different sessions in the morning and the afternoon, participants were given cancer prevention tips during the ‘pink conversation’ by health and beauty specialists as well as pink mocktails, pink hors d’oeuvres and pink manicures.According to Umolu, all proceeds dubbed ‘Pink Proceeds’ from organising the Pink Monday events will fund a beauty support programme for cancer survivors in the community.During Pink Monday, participants can chose to support cancer survivors in many different ways. For example, they can buy a breast cancer awareness pin or a headscarf for a woman who has lost her hair during treatment.“We are dedicating one Monday in a month, when the spa is closed to other clients but open only for persons affected with cancer, who could have free beauty treatments in a relaxed atmosphere,” she said.The inspiration to launch the programme came when one of the promoters lost someone dear to cancer. Speakers at the event, moderated by Al Jazeera anchor Elizabeth Puranam, highlighted ways to prevent breast cancer as well as other types of cancer. They also spoke about lifestyle choices that can help keep cancer at bay.Hamad Medical Corporation’s Cancer Transformation team advanced clinical nurse specialist – breast care, Cathie McKirdy spoke about breast cancer.She stressed breast self examination as a good way of detecting breast cancer early apart from genetic testing for those who are at high risk.Alhamadani Medical Centre’s Dania Dabaa, spoke about the effects of carcinogenic chemicals being used in beauty products on the skin and their link to cancer.Raw Health coach Nicole Van Hattem described how healthy choice of diets can impact health and help prevent cancer, while mentioning that 95% of cancers are related to food and the environment while the remaining five percent are due to genetic reasons.She offered useful hints on shopping for raw food items, eating more fruits and vegetables that are as colourful as a rainbow as well as avoiding eating or reducing consumption of genetically modified food, sugar, alcohol, soda and caffeine, animal flesh, dairy, wheat, as well as processed, artificial and chemical-laced food.“We are what we eat and there is this saying about our beauty products that ‘if you can’t eat it, don’t wear it’, this is especially true for lipsticks,” Hattem said stressing that: “Being aware and getting educated about what we put into our bodies is highly important. Our food needs to look, smell and taste good.”