The last decades have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of deadly diseases related to women. Such diseases as breast cancer are rapidly developing for many regions of the world. It develops due to abnormal cell growth in the breast, leading to tumorous masses.
This can be found in women from age group of 30 and above. If diagnosed early enough, it can be treated with a completely success through modern treatment methodologies.
Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the world with nearly 2.3 million new cases annually. It is one in five cancers in women which has an alarming 70% death rate.
Last-stage diagnosis with poor outcomes have resulted due to low number of women choosing early detection facilities, extremely low knowledge and awareness in women population and patients with other health barriers.
In certain areas of limited resources or medical facilities, maternal orphans and premature mortality is caused due to breast cancer affective considerably younger age-groups.
Hence in order to control the spread, minimize the deaths and steadily remove Breast Cancer from the society, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Let’s know more about Breast Cancer Awareness Month
There are around five types of Breast cancers which are angiosarcoma, phyllodes tumor, Paget disease of breast, Lobular carcinoma and Ductal carcinoma.
The ability to detect breast cancer early is possible; the earliest form called in situ is not fatal. However, unless checked in time, the cancer can spread the tumors throughout the body, thus fatalities.
Breast cancer survival rates depend largely on several criteria like stage of the cancer, type of cancer, and whether invasive or non-invasive. Some breast cancer survival rates are:
- 5-year relative survival rate
Of all its forms and stages, in the United States, breast cancer is reported to have a 5-year relative survival rate of 91%. The five-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer is around 99%.
- Ten-year relative survival rate.
The American Cancer Society estimates that the 10-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is 84%.• 15-year relative survival rate.
The American Cancer Society states that about 80% of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer survive the disease for at least 15 years.
- Survival rates by stage
The survival rates of localized breast cancer for those under 50 are 97%, while 99% are seen for those older than 50. For regional breast cancers, the survival rates for patients under 50 are at 87%, and for those older than 50, 85%. For distant breast cancers, the survival rates are estimated at 38% for adults under 50 and 26% for adults older than 50.
On its part, the World Health Organization recently launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative established in 2021 with the aim of lowering mortality by 2.5 percent every year till 2040 and saving 2.5 million lives via three critical action pillars: increased promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis, and all-inclusive breast cancer treatment and care. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) has the goal of creating public awareness concerning screening of breast cancer and is observed and conducted all over the world every October.
WHO will concentrate on early detection, rapid diagnosis, complete treatment, and support of patients and people with lived experience through patient navigation in October.
It gives the opportunity to review progress, reflect, and renew commitments in tackling the disease as well as building momentum to address existing disparities and challenges in access to breast cancer care.
Theme: No-one should face breast cancer alone
Goals
- More knowledge can enhance more activities. Highlighting the need for awareness and communication motivating women to understand and accept breast cancer screening and early detection in the places of limited-resources.
- Facilitate Sharing of Knowledge and Collaboration: Establish a channel by which the knowledge about the breast cancer is spread, facilitates the exchanging of knowledge, and promotes cooperation and collaboration in breast cancer management
- Promote National Implementation of WHO’s The Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI): Motivate countries to embrace and implement the Global Breast Cancer Initiative efforts toward early detection, appropriate time for diagnosis, and integral care.
- Advocate Patient Support and Eradicate Disparities: Emphasize patient-centered care via medical, emotional, psychological, and social support of patients using patient navigation systems and undertake gender and socio-economic disparities in access to breast cancer services.
Various stakeholders will be included in the program, such as:
- WHO headquarters, regional, and country offices.
- Health ministry representatives
- Healthcare practitioners
- Development and multilateral partners
- Donors and philanthropists
- Nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and philanthropic organizations that have engaged with breast cancer and programs for integrated women’s health
- People with lived experiences
- Civil society organizations.
Towards a Breast Cancer-free World
Measures like Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Screening tests, organizing awareness camps and counselling women on the Breast cancer; has helped in early identification of the disease and initiating swift treatments. These measures need to be undertaken on various levels in all strata of the society using all the modes of communication. The key to curbing the breast cancer spread is spreading awareness on a larger scale in urban and rural areas. Regular self-examination, frequent discussion with the doctors and an open dialogue about breast cancer, will support in early detection of the same.
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