October has been dubbed 'Pink Month' as part of a global campaign to increase breast cancer awareness. Pink Month is a time when initiatives are made to inform those worried about the disease, including early detection and signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
For the first time in Bangladesh, a fashion brand named Deshal launched a special collection, 'স্ব' for women undergoing breast surgery (mastectomy) due to breast cancer. The new collection was unveiled at an event at their flagship store at Banani in the capital on Friday. Bangladesh Cancer Society signed a memorandum of understanding with the brand to inform women undergoing breast surgery about this special collection.
According to data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), over 7,000 women die each year, and over 13,000 are diagnosed with breast cancer in Bangladesh. Also, 19 per cent of the total female cancer patients in Bangladesh in 2020 were breast cancer patients. According to the Global Cancer Observatory, a large proportion of these patients are treated with surgical breast removal (mastectomy). This exclusive collection will make daily life a little easier for those who have decided to undergo this procedure.
'স্ব" is basically a collection of 3 products. These include blouses, tank tops and prosthetic fillers. Knit and woven blouses can be worn with sarees by using fillers in the inner pockets of mastectomy women.
And by using fillers on knit fabric tank tops, cancer survivors can use salwar kameez, kurtis, tops with any clothing. Customers can also buy only fillers apart from blouses and tank tops.
Renowned breast cancer specialist and Bangladesh Cancer Society Joint Secretary General Professor Dr Golam Mohiuddin Faruque, Oncologist at Evercare Hospital's Cancer Care Center Dr Narita Khurshid, Dr Ayesha Siddiqua, Dermatologist from Delta Medical College and Hospital, under the supervision and advice of public health expert Dr NK Natasha, this special line of products is created.
Such products are expensive worldwide for breast cancer survivors. However, keeping the women of Bangladesh in mind, the purchase price of 'স্ব' has been kept within reach of the buyers, with fillers priced at Tk 149, knit blouse at Tk 651, oven blouse at Tk 744 and tank top at Tk 512. Women can even make their own prosthetic fillers for use as needed, with full tutorials available on Deshal's website.
Deshal's founder Kanak Aditya, Ishrat Jahan, Sabuj Siddiki, Chief Business Officer Tashaffi Khan, famous oncologists of the country and women of breast cancer survivors were present in the event.
