Lives renewed: the emergence of a breast cancer survivor movement in Ukraine.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Ukraine. In addition to the physical toll that breast cancer takes, the psychological and emotional needs of women diagnosed with the disease are great but rarely addressed. Since 1997, with initial technical assistance from the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), a nascent breast cancer survivor movement has emerged in Ukraine, which aims to challenge societal stigmatization of the disease. As of mid-2001, survivor groups have been formed in 15 cities, representing 12 of the country's 25 provinces, and groups in eight cities have begun implementing Peer Support Volunteer programmes through which survivors provide information and emotional support to newly diagnosed women in hospital. Survivors also are playing an important role in raising public awareness about the disease through public events, outreach activities and the media. The groups have also forged alliances with key medical professionals specialising in cancer care, both to educate them about the potential role that survivors' groups can play in assisting patients, as well as to enlist their active support for these efforts. Solidifying the groups' organisational structures and strengthening their management and fundraising skills have been vital to success.

Features of the behaviour of double-chained cationic surfactant monomer in a monolayer at the water-gas interface.

We studied the formation of a double-chained cationic monomer, N,N-diallyl-N-cetyl-N-dodecyloxycarbonyl methylammonium bromide, in a monolayer at the water-gas interface. An increase in surface pressure induced the transition from the liquid-expanded to liquid-condensed state with tail-packing and then head-packing of the monomer, which was accompanied by a decrease in the mobility of monomer molecules. An increase in the ionic strength of the subphase led to the compression of the layer, and addition of ethanol or detergents caused its dilution. Polyethylene glycol and polyacrylic acid induced the formation of a complex between the monomer and polymer.