Theme: No-one should face breast cancer alone
Background
Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally with around 2.3 million new cases every year. It represents one in eight cancer cases in both sexes and a quarter of all cancers in women1 with 70% mortality occurring in resource constrained settings. Health system barriers and patient level factors with low levels of awareness and knowledge are contributing to low uptake of early detection services, with resultant late-stage diagnoses and poor outcomes. In many resource-constrained settings, breast cancer affects a relatively younger population significantly contributing to premature mortality and maternal orphans.
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) in 2021 to reduce mortality rates by 2.5% per year by 2040 to save 2.5 million lives through three key pillars of action on health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis; and comprehensive breast cancer management. The breast cancer awareness month (BCAM) is celebrated globally every October to create awareness about breast cancer. This October we will highlight the importance of early detection, timely diagnosis, comprehensive treatment and the need to provide support for persons with lived experience including through patient navigation. It also provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to review progress, reflect and renew commitments in tackling the disease and to build momentum to address the existing disparities and challenges in access to breast cancer care.
Objectives
- Raise Awareness and Drive Behaviour Change: Promote advocacy, awareness, and behaviour change communication to increase the uptake of breast cancer screening and early diagnosis, particularly in resource-constrained settings
- Facilitate Knowledge Sharing and Partnerships: Provide a platform for dissemination of breast cancer information, foster knowledge exchange, and strengthen collaborations and partnerships for breast cancer control
- Support National Adoption of WHO’s The Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI): Encourage countries to adopt and implement the Global Breast Cancer Initiative with a focus on early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive care.
- Promote Patient Support and Address Disparities: Highlight the importance of patient-centred care, including medical, emotional, psychological, and social support through patient navigation systems, while addressing gender and socioeconomic disparities in access to breast cancer care.
Participants
Breast cancer awareness month will be convened in the month of October. It will bring together various stakeholders including:
- WHO headquarters, regional and country offices
- Representatives from ministries of health
- Healthcare providers
- Development and multilateral partners
- Donors and philanthropists
- Nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions and philanthropic organizations involved breast cancer and integrated women’s health programmes
- Persons with lived experiences
- Civil society groups.
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