The association was formed on the 11th of April 2008 at Santa Maria Hospital in Lisboa, by means of public deed, in the Administrative Council of the Hospital.
The founding members were: Dr Adalberto Campos Fernandes, Professor Henrique Manuel Bicha Castelo, Dr Emília Vieira, Dr Maria da Conceição Valente Patrício, Professor Luís António Marques da Costa, Dr Marília Maria Liberato Jorge Lemos, Professora Maria Isabel de Freitas Ferreira Queimado Grilo, Alice Tavares Leitão Ascensão Luís, Sister Maria das Dores de Jesus Martins, Angelina dos Anjos S. L. do Carmo, Maria do Céu Faísca Diogo Ramos, Professor Manuel do Rosário Caneira da Silva, Dr Olga Fouto, all members of staff at Santa Maria Hospital and all currently working.
This was the culmination of a long and laborious path of perseverance which, under this administration, began on the 17th of November 2007.

This is a non-profit making humanitarian, social solidarity association, with a mission to provide a space for sharing experiences, information support and personalised accompaniment for women with Breast Cancer, who use the specialty services of the Lisbon Santa Maria Hospital, now called the North Lisbon Hospital Centre.

It subject is the defence of and support for its members who suffer from Breast Cancer in all of the phases of the illness, namely, pre- and post-operation, hospitalisation and out-patient times, in an effort towards achieving a better quality of life, and also to grant support for family members whenever they need it.

For many years patients have been telling us of the need for there to be an association with a humanitarian nature that might inform them, clarify doubts and help them to manage the emotional and psychological balances necessary for the success of therapy. We professionals connected to this multi-disciplinary pathology felt that its existence would be an advantage in the patient/institution relationship, bringing Great improvement to the healing process.

We are installed in the Santa Maria Hospital, provisionally on Level 2, near to the post office, where we can receive those who come to us
and ask for collaboration.

The definitive premises will be set up near to the BREAST UNIT, now being built above the Radiotherapy Service with the date for the inauguration having been foreseen for 2010.

What has been done over this first years is:
– Partnership with the BEST WISCHES LDA company for promoting the association on a national level and to gather funding.
Sales stands were created to sell products with the campaign logo on them and to hand out association leaflets with details of carrying out one’s own breast exams.
Informative talks have been held towards this end, both in Lisbon and in Oporto, about breast cancer and about the association’s role for women with breast cancer.

– Personalised accompaniment with volunteers for women with breast cancer in order to exchange and share experiences, whenever possible before the surgical phase.

– Four informative talks were held in October 2008 called OCTOBER AFTERNOONS IN SANTA MARIA–
In February 2009 a new cycle of talks began on issues based on the subjects most frequently raised by patients.
In February – LINFEDEMA (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service)
In Março – NUTRITION (Dr Patrícia Nunes – Dietetics and Nutrition Service)
In April – SEXUALITY AND FAMILY INTEGRATION (Dr Tânia Carneiro – Psychology Office)
In May – PHYSICAL EXERCISE (Dr Alexandre Figueiredo – Degree from the Faculty of Human Motricity, and Nurse Pedro Pires)
In June – CLOTHES AND HAIR (Miguel Garcia – hairdresser, and João Rolo – fashion designer)

For this year:
– We wish to help by subsidising prosthetic breasts and bras, and we are holding fund-raising events (which began in August 2009);
– To organize support groups in the holistic, psychological and physical areas;
– To continue to hold monthly talks, beginning again in November;
– In October we are launching the 2nd holding of the October afternoons in Santa Maria, on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th at 2.30 pm in the Jaime Celestino da Costa Amphitheatre, on Level 2;
– Also during the month of October, we put up a tent around the outside perimeter of the hospital in order to divulge the association and the teaching of the self-diagnosis breast exam for medicine and nursing students. There will also be the presence of volunteers fro the sharing of experiences.

Emilia Vieira
General Surgery Graduate Assistant
Guest Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon
President of the Management Committee of the AMIGAS DO PEITO Association
e-mail: amigasdopeito.pt@gmail.com
Mobile 961774551
Beeper 91334