Wear pink and stand out for awareness!
Key Messages for Breast Cancer Awareness Month | October 2024
- Why we must address breast cancer: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally and represents approximately a quarter of all cancers that occur in women every year. With one in six cancer deaths in women worldwide, breast cancer is also the leading cause of cancer deaths among women globally.
- Know your risks of developing breast cancer: the most common risk factors for most women around the world is increasing age, being obese, limited physical activity, alcohol use and using certain types of post-menopausal hormonal replacement. There are other established risk factors such as a history of previous radiation and risk factors that relate to a woman’s choice to bear children and to breast feed. Only about 5-10% of breast cancers have a hereditary risk.
- Actions to reduce breast cancer risks: Majority of breast cancers occurs in women with no specific risk factor apart from being female and increasing age. For women of all ages, it is important to be aware of changes in your breast and for those who are above 40 or 50 years old, a mammogram may be recommended in health care settings with adequate screening services.
- Countries can reduce deaths caused by breast cancer: All countries should target to reduce breast cancer mortality by 2.5% per year to be on track to save 2.5 million lives by 2040. This is feasible by providing breast cancer services as part of the essential benefit package for universal health coverage and making them available in public facilities. The Global Breast Cancer Initiative lays down the framework to guide this.
- Let’s close the care gap: There is a 60% survival difference between woman with breast cancer living in high-income countries as compared to those living in low-and-middle income countries. Additionally, 70% of breast cancer deaths happen in resource-limited settings due to challenges in access to early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.
- Continue talking about breast cancer: Advocate, contribute and act to empower and support those with breast cancer, no one should face breast cancer alone.