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Breast cancer is the second leading
cause of death among women
PCEC Member & Phyathai
Sriracha Hospital’s International Department Manager, Gavin Wadell,
introduces Dr. Sujaree, a general surgeon from Phyathai Sriracha Hospital.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among
women - after cervical cancer - not only in the West but also in Thailand.
This was one of the observations made by Dr. Sujaree, a general surgeon from
Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, when she spoke to the Pattaya City Expats Club
at their Sunday, February 16 meeting. She received her degree from the
Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital with additional studies in Advance
Trauma Life Support and Definitive Surgical Trauma Care. Prior to joining
Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, she was a General Surgeon at Naradhiwas
Rajanagarindra Hospital. The hospital also had a nurse available to give
free blood pressure checks.
Dr. Sujaree explained what when it occurs, breast cancer is usually found in
one of two areas in the breast: the lobule (the parts of the breast that
produce milk) or the inner linings of the milk duct. She mentioned that in
the U.S.A., one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer, and one
in 36 women will die from it. In 2014, it is estimated that the U.S.A. will
see almost 233,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 40,000 deaths.
She said that the risk factors for breast cancer are: (1) being more than 40
years of age; (2) having a family history of breast cancer; (3) starting
one’s period at a very young age; (4) entering menopause later than most
women; (5) smoking; and (6) having a first child after 30 years of age.
Dr. Sujaree explained that when
it occurs, breast cancer is usually found in one of two areas in the breast:
the lobule (the parts of the breast that produce milk) or the inner linings
of the milk duct.
Further, women are encouraged to do self-examination of
their breasts once a month and consult a doctor if they detect something
that feels like a lump; any abnormal nipple discharge; any inflammation; any
dimpling (a slight depression or hollow area); any puckering (wrinkles or
irregular folds of the skin); and any retraction of the nipple.
Women should also see their doctor if they notice any change in breast size;
any difference between the two breasts; any pain or tenderness; any redness;
any change in the position of the nipple; any scaling around the nipples;
and any sore on the breast that does not heal. Also, she advises women, not
only to do a self-examination monthly, but also to see their doctor for a
check-up once a year, and to have a mammogram at age 35 and then every year
from age 40 on.
Diagnosis of breast cancer is done using a clinical breast examination,
mammography, ultrasound or a core needle biopsy (or some combination of
these), Dr. Sujaree explained. Additionally, treatment for breast cancer
that is detected early is usually conservative. It can involve removal of a
lump or chemotherapy. In advanced cases, it is usually necessary to remove
the breast. Other interventions may be necessary if the cancer has spread
beyond the breasts.
MC Richard Silverberg presents
Dr Sujaree with a Certificate of Appreciation for her most informative &
well illustrated presentation.
During the question and answer period after the
presentation, in response to a question, Dr Sujaree said that men can get
breast cancer too, but that they represent less than one percent of all
cases. The symptoms and diagnostic routines are similar, but a tissue sample
would be taken instead of doing a mammogram. Dr Sujaree also agreed that
breast feeding is a good cancer prevention strategy. She also said that a
mammogram is a better diagnostic tool than ultrasound but doctors usually do
both. She added that in very young women, sometimes only ultrasound is used.
Roy Albiston conducts the always
interesting Open Forum, where questions are asked and answered about ‘Expat
living’ in Thailand, especially in Pattaya.
Finally, Dr Sujaree said that symptoms that are similar
to those of breast cancer may be the result of non-cancerous conditions like
an infection or a cyst.
Then, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg brought everyone up to date on
upcoming events and called on Roy Albiston to conduct the always interesting
Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in
Thailand, especially Pattaya.
For more information on the many activities of the Pattaya City Expats Club,
visit their website at www. pcecclub.org.
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Pattaya International Ladies Coffee Morning held at Pan Pan Restaurant
Anne Winfield
PILC’s February Coffee Morning was held at Pan Pan Restaurant on Thepprasit Road
in Jomtien. A favorite venue for members of the Club, 72 ladies showed up to
meet old friends, make some new ones, and to sample the delicious buffet of
snacks laid out by the restaurant.
President Helle Rantzen welcomed everybody and introduced the newly elected
executive board to members, thanking them for volunteering their time to ensure
that Club business is administered effectively. She then went on to make Club
announcements, reminding members of upcoming trips and events, including a tour
of Bumrungrad Hospital, an exploration of Naklua and the Mangrove Regeneration
Project, and a boat trip to Bird Island.
Helle also spoke about her plans to make the club luncheons themed affairs this
year, with the next one - which will be held at the Holiday Inn’s Havana Bar -
having a Latin-American flair to it.
As usual, Club VP, Joyce Aldridge, was on hand with raffle tickets, the proceeds
of which go to help PILC’s various charitable endeavors.
The guest speaker for the day was a physical therapist and exercise guru who
spoke to the ladies about the importance of keeping in good health through
regular exercise and good nutrition. March is Nutrition Month, he reminded
everyone, and urged them to be aware of the value of what they eat.
The next coffee morning will be held at Le Ferme Restaurant in Naklua, another
Club favorite. For more information about PILC, please go to their website at
www.pilc-pattaya.com , or email
[email protected].
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PILC is welcomed
at the Camillian Centre
Helle Rantsen, Joyce Aldridge,
and PILC members donated 60,000 baht to the Camillian Centre.
Joyce Aldridge,
Welfare chairperson
Camillian Social Centre Rayong is one of the first activities opened in
Asia to accommodate and help sick orphan children living with HIV/AIDS.
At the moment CSC Rayong is a wonderful example of the integration of activities
to fight the problem of HIV/AIDS, with 7 projects scattered in the South Eastern
region of Thailand, which has a population of 7,000,000 people; 150,000 of whom
are living with HIV/AIDS.
Helle Rantsen, president of PILC, and Joyce Aldridge, PILC vice president and
welfare chairperson, went with a few other ladies on Monday the 17th of February
to give 60,000 baht to the Camillian Centre to help with education, clothing and
food for the 78 children that live in the centre. They made us feel very welcome
with a nice cup of coffee.
Venue’s ‘Lady Diamond’ night raises funds for street kids project
Owners of the Venue Residence, Ray Cornell (left),
and Darrell Bevers (right), hosted a successful charity night with Lady Diamond
Sitges (center).
Veechan Souksi
Photos by Danny Carson
The Venue, a self-described “gay hotel & cabaret” in the Jomtien
Complex, helped raise nearly 20,000 baht for the Pattaya Street Kids Project at
its second Lady Diamond night.
More than 200 people turned out for the Feb. 12 event, which featured a
performance from European drag queen Lady Diamond Sitges. Accompanied by friend
Miss Ruby, he sang in a variety of languages and styles mixed with comedy that
had the crowd rolling. The show raised 19,650 baht.
The Venue hosts special shows throughout the year, including its annual birthday
bash in April, and parties for Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s. A similar
charity show in January raised more than 18,000 baht.
A boutique hotel with spa and pool, The Venue’s regular cabaret show has become
popular with both straight and gay tourists. Part of that is the low cost: There
is no cover charge and the drinks for sale are reasonably priced. In addition,
the costumes and choreography rival other cabaret shows in Pattaya and runs
nightly at 10 p.m.
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26 Thai couples set Guinness record for longest hug at Ripley’s Pattaya Valentine’s contest
26 Thai couples set a Guinness world record for longest
hug at Ripley’s Pattaya Valentine’s Day contest.
Veechan Souksi
Puckered out after three years of kissing, Pattaya’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
spent Valentine’s Day looking for the world’s longest hug.
Thirty-one couples opened their arms at the Royal Garden Plaza amusement center
for the Feb. 14 attempt to beat the current world record held by British gay
couple Sanderson Jones and Mikey Lear at 25 hours, 22 minutes and 36 seconds.
Thailand’s sweethearts, however, would face direct competition from Australia,
where another hugging marathon was taking place.
In theory, the rules were simple: Couples of any gender who are at least 18
years old had to embrace continuously for a full 26 hours. They would get a
five-minute break each hour, with the opportunity to stockpile breaks for longer
pauses. No movement would be allowed during the hug and contestants who broke
their hand grips would be disqualified. Got an itch? Get an audience member to
scratch it. Participants also had to remain awake for the duration with no
pillows or cushions for support.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome congratulates the winners of
the diamond rings, Malin Kemil (2nd left) and Thamasak Karnchanadul (2nd right)
with the marketing managers of the World Gem’s Collection and Ripley’s Believe
It or Not! Pattaya Vice President Somporn Naksuetrong (right).
Only five couples quit or were disqualified in the first 25 hours. And then the
news came that the Aussie huggers topped out at 26 hours and five minutes.
Ripley’s officials set the Thai goal for 26 hours, 26 minutes and 26 seconds for
the 26 remaining couples.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome blew the final whistle, with all 26 still
standing. The 300,000 baht prize money was equally split among the contestants,
giving each 11,538 baht.
The lucky prize drawing contest also took place after the clock was stopped,
giving the chance for the contestants to win two diamond rings, three VIP
tickets for the Tiffany Show Pattaya, ten Major Cineplex movie tickets and four
three-days, two-night stays at the Anatara Hotels in Koh Samui, Phuket, Bangkok,
or Hua Hin, or Marriot Hotel & Spa in Pattaya.
The rings from World Gems went to Thamasak Karnchanadul, 29, and Malin Kemil,
27.
Exhausted contestants rest after 26 hours, 26 minutes
and 26 seconds of hugging.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome (center) and Ripley’s Believe
It or Not! Pattaya Vice President Somporn Naksuetrong (right) toasting a glass
of white wine to the countdown of the World’s longest hug.
The 26 contestants who broke the Guinness world record
celebrated a hard won victory.
Contestants grip on their loved ones tight after the
whistle was blown to start the contest.
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