Dr. Kris Chatamra, Director, and Khunying Finola Chatamra, Honorary Advisor of the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer (QSCBC) and Foundation, recently launched a coffee table book appropriately named SANCTUARY at a grand champagne reception at Anantara Bangkok attended by prominent personalities from across all industries including Dr. Pakpilai Thavisin, wife of the Prime Minister of Thailand, celebrities, the crème de la crème of Thai society most of whom are featured as QSCBC Ambassadors in the book. The lovely pair of young socialites Pavarisa Phenjati (“WaanWaan”) and Grace Mahadumrongkul were the charming and dynamic emcees.
One of the highlights of the event was the premiere of A Song of Hope for Breast Cancer titled ‘เชื่อฉันไหม’ (Do You Believe Me), written by renowned songwriter and producer Cheewin ‘Boyd’ Kosiyabong, performed live for the first time by Rudklao Amratisha, one of Thailand’s most famous singing artists.
Another highlight is the introduction of the latest QSCBC ambassador, famous Thai designer Vatanika, who
announced her plan to stage a fashion show to unveil a special collection with proceeds dedicated towards the QSCBC Foundation.
SANCTUARY is a limited series book that features 15 years of the national ‘QSCBC Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign’, including all the breast cancer ambassadors and valuable information about a disease that is the leading cancer today causing death for Thai patients. The book also tells the story of the work of the QSCBC over 25 years, from its onset to the present day as one of the most modern regional centres, but open to all women in need, whatever their social means, particularly the underprivileged. SANCTUARY is a limited edition, designed as a coffee table style book and using the highest quality paper and printing techniques.
As Royal Patron, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, graciously requested that the QSCBC become a “sanctuary for all women in need”. The book SANCTUARY is thereby dedicated to Her Majesty and will not be sold, but donated to embassies internationally and institutions in Thailand, including universities and schools to bring a greater understanding of breast cancer.
SANCTUARY celebrates the many years of the QSCBC’s work, (over 25 years), which has developed from a simple idea to become one of the most modern centres for breast cancer in the region. It is built entirely on donated funds, but open to all women, particularly the underprivileged. The QSCBC Breast Cancer Screening Project in the poorest slum communities and the QSCBC Pink Park clinical unit, which cares for the poorest patients nationally during their recovery from breast cancer and acts as a hospice, are two examples outlined in the book.
SANCTUARY also shares the story of the QSCBC’s remarkable success with a new research treatment.
According to Dr. Stuart Curbishley, PhD, Director of Advanced Therapies, Immunotherapy and Immunology Centre, University of Birmingham, who had flown into Bangkok from the United Kingdom especially to attend the book launch, “The QSCBC has developed a new treatment approach using immunotherapy, which has destroyed the cancer in the liver and lungs of patients who have reached the final stages of breast cancer, when all other treatments had finally failed. They also have the most modern equipment available for treatment and diagnosis, but also the most advanced laboratory facilities.”
“This was the first in the world and amazing news for breast cancer patients. The work was presented at the St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference in Switzerland, in 2021,” added Dr. Stuart Curbishley. The project is now a full research trial, dependent, like all the projects on donations.
For those interested to make donations towards further research of the new treatment approach using
immunotherapy, please call tel. 02 214 6044, or, for more information about the QSCBC, call tel. 02 256 4693 or check out https://qscbc.org/
Group Photo from left: Dr. Stuart Curbishley, PhD, Director of Advanced Therapies, Immunotherapy and Immunology Centre, University of Birmingham; Dr. Sonthaya Klombien , Dr. Kris Chatamra and Khunying Finola Chatamra; Ms. Arporn Kawinanan, Dr. Supee Pongpanich, and Mr. Cheewin ‘Boyd’ Kosiyabong.
