INTRODUCTION
The Association for Support of Women with Neoplasties ( Associação de
Apoio à Mulher Portadora de Neoplasia, AAMN ) is a non profit
organization whose objective is to provide support to underprivileged women
with cancer.
The treatment of breast cancer consists of surgery followed by radiation or
Chemotherapy.
Survival rates over a ten year period of up 99 % are observed when this
course of treatment is followed.
Chemotherapy involves treatment once every 3 weeks for 6 months while,
Radiation requires a 25 to 30 day treatment period.
The Brazilian National Cancer Institute ( INCA , Instituto Nacional do
Cancer ) provides free cancer treatment for women throughout Brazil.
Many women treated at INCA live outside of the city of Rio de Janeiro
and lack the financial resources to pay for housing. However, some are
too debilitated by the disease to make the monthly trips into the city for
treatment. For this reason, these women will not complete the much-needed
treatment cycle.
The mission of AAMN is to provide housing, nourishmewnt, transportation
and psychological assistance to these patients and families during their care
at INCA and other hospitals like University Hospital Rio de Janeiro and
Hemorio.
The Civil Organization for Public Interest ( OSCIP, Organização da
Sociedade Civil de Interesse Público ) , founded in June of 2004, was the
first institution in Rio de Janeiro linked to INCA to aid in the area of Social
Services.
AAMN, located in the Jacarepaguá neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, is a five
bedroom property with the ability to house 17 patients 7 days a week, or a
total of more than 3.000 patients/ year who undergoing cancer treatment.
AAMN´s objective goes beyond saving lives. Our goal to give low-income
patients hope, comfort and a return to their families and normal life.