On a bright Saturday morning, the sports arena hall on the palm oil plantation was filled with women and children. The hall, typically used for exercise, hosted the Pink Talk program, an initiative of the Lovepink Indonesia Foundation aimed at promoting breast cancer prevention and early detection.
Astra Agro invited representatives from villages within a 1 km radius of the plantations, including Pandu Sanjaya, Sidomulyo, Sungai Bengkoang, Pangkalan Tiga, and Runtu, to a socialization event at PT Gunung Sejahtera Dua Indah (GSDI) in Central Kalimantan. The company also invited healthcare workers from the Polibun (Plantation Polyclinic), including doctors, nurses, and Posyandu (integrated health service post) cadres from both inside and outside the company, as well as the PERISKA community.Promoting breast cancer prevention in Astra Agro subsidiaries is crucial, especially for communities near the plantations. According to the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women in Indonesia, largely due to late detection, myths, and negative stigma.
“Many people assume breast cancer only affects women with a family history, but there are many other factors, such as hormones, diet, and psychological conditions,” said Nyoman Christiany Yudha, a member of Lovepink Indonesia and a breast cancer survivor.
Early detection can be achieved through SADARI (Breast Self-Examination) and SADANIS (Clinical Breast Examination). The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia reports that about 85% of breast abnormalities are first detected by women through proper SADARI. This self-exam can be performed at home, ideally 7 to 10 days after menstruation, when the breasts are softer and more tender.When abnormalities are found during a breast self-exam or in women over 40, a clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional is strongly recommended. Early detection significantly increases the chances of recovery.
Raising awareness is not solely the responsibility of women; support from family and the community is also essential. For example, a husband’s encouragement for regular checkups is a valuable first step.
“Through the village representatives present, we will help disseminate the knowledge from Lovepink to other village residents after returning from this event,” emphasized Suyamto, Head of Pangkalan Tiga Village, West Kotawaringin Regency. According to him, knowledge about early detection and prevention of breast cancer is very valuable, especially for communities in rural and remote areas of Central Kalimantan.This event marks the fourth annual collaboration between Astra Agro and Lovepink Indonesia, following previous programs in Riau, Central Sulawesi, and West Sulawesi. The partnership commenced at the onset of the pandemic, with online sessions reaching all Astra Agro operational areas in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, as well as other initiatives outlined in the following Sustainability Aspiration article.
Through ongoing collaboration with Lovepink Indonesia, we aim to expand education and prevention efforts, reach a wider audience, and foster collective awareness of the importance of breast cancer prevention and early detection. These efforts are key to reducing advanced-stage breast cancer cases in remote areas of Indonesia.
