Association of Women with Breast Cancer ALMA ZOIS Achaias Perfecture

The Association of Women with Breast Cancer «ALMA ZOIS» Achaia’s Prefecture is an exclusively patient organization founded in Patras, Greece in 2001.

The aims and scopes of our Association remain the same as of its original establishment:

o   Specially Designed Peer Support for Patients,

o   Psychological Support, Empowerment and Rehabilitation of women with breast cancer and their families,

o   Disillusionment of Cancer,

o   Breast cancer awareness, prevention and early diagnosis,

o   Advocacy on legal matters and social rights (as pension, insurance, etc.), assistance and support on needed equipment such as provision of wigs and exclusively designed brassieres,

o   Psychosocial support and training of patient’s carer.

The Association is being managed by a 7membered Board of Directors, which is consisted exclusively by women who were or still fighting breast cancer.

The Association’s highly qualified personnel operate on a full-time basis. Its personnel are consisted by a Social Worker with an educational, supervisory and advisory role throughout all Associations’ programs and operations, a psychologist for the psychological support for women and their families and a psychologist responsible for Communication, Financing and Fund Raising. Scientific work is being constantly supervised by a Scientific Committee which consists of distinguished and highly specialized scientists from the wider region. The Association financially relies on the subscriptions of its members, on donations and sponsorships. All services are provided completely FREE to the community and being a member is not required.

Our Work

Associations’ work during its 25 years of sole operation in numbers:

Ø  4.907 hours of psychosocial support through individual and group sessions by our psychologist and social worker,

Ø  5.896 free clinical breast examinations by specialized breast surgeons,

Ø  1.700 imaging tests with referral to collaborating diagnostic centers in the region,

Ø  Over 1.200 hours of shifts through our Peer Support Program in hospitals,

Ø  3.200 women were supported via Peer Support Program,

Ø  840 informative events throughout the Western Greece Region,

Ø  150 hours of training oncological patients’ carers (within the last 3 years).

Our office welcomes all women with breast cancer and their family members, in a place that can talk and express their feelings, thoughts and difficulties in a climate of safety and confidentiality. All women fighting breast cancer can take full advantage of our programs and talk to the social worker or a volunteer in a warm and friendly place in the city center of Patras. All meetings must be scheduled via appointment. All the Associations’ programs and services are being provided totally FREE of any charge.

Also, on the premises of the Association there is a permanent exhibition of wigs, artificial breasts, bras and swimwear, which are available to women who need them (based on income criteria) as well as a list of addresses of stores that can supply them. Free information sheets and an artificial breast specialized for the post-op stage, are also available.