The association is in Menorca for women affected by breast cancer. It was created by 15 women battling this disease. Our goal is to provide support alongside the medical area with practical information and first hand experiences to help people integrate back into daily life.
beginning
1. Contribute towards the information provided by the Municipal Social Health services concerning breast cancer.
2. Raise awareness amongst the political classes, the media, health professionals, education, and society in general towards breast cancer.
3. Promote by all means necessary the rehabilitation, reintegration into society and improvement of the quality of life of all those affected.
4. To provide help and means particular to the association, available to those affected in order to overcome the problems caused by the disease.
5. Create a group of volunteers to support those affected.
6. Inform and advise people affected and their relatives.
7. Maintain contact with the relative administrations and health to achieve a comprehensive treatment of breast cancer.
8. Apply for subsidies from public and private institutions, public administrations, aimed at maintaining the expenses generated by the different services set up by the association.
10. Collaborate with other non-profit associations.
11. Maintain contacts with people, associations, institutions from other Autonomous Communities of Spain, other states or community bodies in various countries.
We are a nonprofit organization.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE:
When a woman is first diagnosed with breast cancer, she might feel like she doesn’t know where to go, what to do or what her life will be like from now on. Common questions are: What will happen? Will they remove my breast? Will I have to spend the rest of my life without it? How will I cope with chemotherapy? Will my hair fall out?
Whilst doctors know about the different treatments available, they don’t necessarily know how it feels, like a person who has gone through a situation like ours.
This is where Alba can help. Here a woman can learn from other women within the organisation. They can exchange stories and advice, and find help with problems they may encounter. There are members who have lived with this disease for many years and have valuable knowledge to share. Here you can learn about breast reconstruction, hair and skin regimes, buying wigs, post-operation bras and prosthesis.
Alba has the support of a local physiotherapist. There are various activities, incluiding yoga and talks centred on related topics such as healthy eating, post-surgery sex-life, movements and relazation.
When a person has been given the news that they are in remission, and now only need to return for periodic check-ups, they may still feel very afraid and alone. At this point, the ALBA Association is there to continue offering support
Many women have passed through ALBA MENORCA.
Once they have left the disease behind, some want to forget and not come back. Others want to drop in occasionally whilst others remain fully involved. It is always comforting to be able to count on the advice and experience of others.
The diagnosis is a shock that causes both stress and anxiety. Many women have to face treatment alone. It causes changes in work life, in family dynamics, and upsettingly, appearance (mastectomy, hair loss).
If Alba has only helped one woman through this difficult period of her life it has been worthwhile forming the association, but it has actually helped very many and hopes to continue doing so in the future.
Alba representatives:
President:
Cristina Fernández
Vice president:
Maria José Sánchez
Secretary
Mª José Salamanca
Treasurer:
Ruth Tysoe
Vocal:
Roswitha Britz
Vocal:
María Sánchez
Vocal:
Raquel Expósito
Vocal:
Mª Dolores Jiménez
FECMA is made up of 46 non-profit breast cancer associations in Spain, whether local, regional or state, whose purpose is the fight against breast cancer in all its facets.
ALBA Menorca joined FECMA in 2002
Guide, coordinate, advise and collaborate with associations integrated in the Spanish Federation of Breast Cancer (FECMA).
Demand from the health administrations sufficient budgets for this problem of public health: investigation, early detection and sociosanitary attention.
Insist on the importance of detection, encouraging its extension and evaluating the results.
Cooperate with administrations, institutions, bodies, laboratories, etc., that have Breast Cancer as their goals.
Maintain dialogue in decisions related to Breast Cancer.
Assess the efforts and initiatives of universities, hospitals, laboratories and companies working on research projects.
That early detection practices and programs be conducted under the supervision and responsibility of the Public Health System.
That there is no territorial discrimination in the face of early detection programs and treatments.
Foster a culture of quality, prestige and recognition of the Associations; foster communication, good services and values.
To be a Federation with a vocation for permanence and a will to extend to the whole national territory.
Sponsors:
