POLISH AMAZONS SOCIAL MOVEMENT

Polish Amazons, the Social Movement

The National Post-Mastectomy Women's Movement is nearly twenty five years old. Its founding concept was to use the traumatic experience of breast cancer survivors for creating a friendly community for cancer patients. It has been a success. Today nearly 180 Clubs operate in Poland which help women who have undergone breast cancer treatment, on the principle „Helping others you help yourself". The Clubs are members of a Federation which implements the concept of self-help in full, on an every day basis.
The beginning of the 21st century brought new challenges. Increasing differences in the level of treatment of cancer patients, access to modern therapy, and quality of medical services between the countries of the "old" and "new" European Union have demonstrated the need for change. The time has come to make the next step. It is no longer enough to listen to the voice of the global spirit of change and observe the world around us. We have to move beyond the existing structures of our self-help activities and unite forces in a nationwide social movement to improve the quality of oncological care. We are establishing the Polish Amazons' Social Movement.

The aim of the Movement

Our key objective is for the Movement to provide a broad platform of social dialogue and cooperation. Everyone who has had to face the illness will have an opportunity to share his or her knowledge and experience. Acting all together, regardless of where we live, we can influence positive changes in Polish oncology. We want the Polish Amazons' Social Movement to become a strong, serious and representative partner in the dialogue with representatives of various levels of national government authorities as well as other institutions operating in the health care system to propose systemic solutions, to inform about the needs of cancer patients and the standards of treatment to which they are entitled, and to encourage civic activity in the sphere of health care policy. It is by no means an easy task, but victory loves a challenge. We can win if we act together.
The Social Movement, which will include both affected women as well as men, women from the high risk group and those who are simply committed to the condition of Polish oncology, can have an important influence on developing the program of promoting equal opportunity in the area of health care for citizens of the "old" and "new" European Union countries. We are citizens of a united Europe and we have a right to demand equal treatment in access to appropriate care and modern medical therapy, as well as a right to bring down systemic barriers.
The Movement operates under the auspices of the Polish Breast Cancer Research Association and the oldest patient organization, the first Amazons' Club in Poland, the Warsaw-Center "Amazonki" Association.

Activities

One of our intended forms of activity involves conducting a National Census of Breast Cancer Treatment. We want to check the treatment process and level of received oncological care, and using this opportunity to find out the approximate number of breast cancer patients in our country. The information obtained from the Census will bring us closer to a real picture of cancer treatment. Its results will be published in the form of a report two years after the launch of the Census, and will subsequently provide a basis for revising the public system of patient benefits.

Bearing in mind the standards of health care desired by patients, we intend to single out and promote oncological centers which distinguish themselves in terms of quality. Everyone will be able to recommend a Good Center, a center which, thanks to the standards of applied practice, will become an example to be followed by others. As a result a civic ranking of the best oncological centers in Poland will be created.

We shall also establish a Civil Watch, its aim being to monitor the practices of the health service and decisions related to changes in the health care system.

If you want to contact us use the email - biuro@ruchspoleczny.org.pl.