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Converting to SADARI: A ritual that saves women’s lives
The world has turned its attention to breast cancer awareness, a cause that takes center stage during October, which is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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Self-examination technique: Surgical oncologist Walta Gautama Said Tehuwayu (right) speaks about women’s reluctance to perform the SADARI breast cancer examination technique while deputy head of gender equality at the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry Lenny N. Rosalin (center) and a moderator listen on Sept. 23, 2023, during a press conference at the ministry in Jakarta. (JP/Sylviana Hamdani)
D
espite widespread efforts to shed light on this potentially deadly disease, many women remain unaware of the critical importance of regularly practicing the SADARI self-examination.
Sri, a middle-aged housewife in Cilegon, Banten, has always had near-perfect health. She had no idea that a deadly threat was silently lurking within her body.
Until a public health advertisement was broadcast on television in mid-August 2016.
“The ad showed how to perform SADARI,” the 55-year-old recounted over the phone on Sept. 25. “I immediately put it into practice.”
To her surprise, Sri discovered a sizable, painless lump beneath her right nipple. She seeked medical advice and an oncologist confirmed Sri’s worst fear, Stage 3 breast cancer, after a mammae USG and mammography.
“It felt like my whole world had collapsed,” the mother of two confided.
She immediately underwent a frozen-section biopsy and mastectomy on the same day, followed by a series of chemotherapy treatments and hormonal therapy.
