Everyone is united by the experience of fighting cancer. “We bring together women who have won their battle with breast cancer or are still undergoing treatment,” says Władysława Kotlarek, head of the Bolesławiec Amazons Club. “We help anyone who turns to us, regardless of the type of illness. There are more and more men among us. We organize marches to make everyone aware of how important preventive examinations are—that they must not be feared or postponed.”
Sixty women belong to the Bolesławiec club. “Unfortunately, many sick people shut themselves away at home, become depressed, lose hope and do not want to meet others,” emphasizes Władysława Kotlarek. “We try to reach them. We have already paved the way; we know specialists, treatment methods and rehabilitation.”
Bolesławiec Cancer Day is always held under the patronage of the county and city authorities. “I always try to be here,” says county head Tomasz Gabrysiak. “I greatly value what Mrs. Kotlarek and the entire club do for our community. It is a major contribution to our common good. People who were once ill want to work for those who may potentially become ill. They conduct preventive activities, bring the community together and do so non-profit, which in today’s commercialized times is by no means obvious. I declare that, as far as possible, we will always try to help the association.”
The county provides financial support for the activities of the Bolesławiec Amazons Club. “When we organize competitions for funding activities related to prevention or community integration, the ideas and applications submitted by the club are creative, professional and aimed at a large group of people—not only Amazons,” says the county head.
The director of the Bolesławiec hospital has no good news. Unfortunately, Lower Silesia is one of the Polish regions with the highest number of cancer cases. “It is terrible, but within the next ten years, one in three people will develop cancer,” emphasizes Kamil Barczyk. “Cardiovascular diseases will no longer be the most common cause of death. That is why prevention, quick access to specialists and education are so important. Thanks to financial support from the county local governments, we have the opportunity to establish our own magnetic resonance imaging and CT scan facilities. Next year, we plan to establish mammography and ultrasound facilities. We are focusing on developing the oncology clinic and expanding its services. A colorectal disease clinic is already operating on the hospital premises. We perform colonoscopies free of charge.”
“The activities of the Bolesławiec Amazons Club are invaluable,” says Katarzyna Grzelczyk, head of the Department of Civil, Social and Health Affairs. “Women who have gone through such traumatic experiences want to help others and provide moral support to those who still face a battle with cancer. Illness can affect anyone, and it is good to know then that there are people who selflessly offer hope.”