Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685 000 deaths globally. As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer. Nevertheless, when found early, and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. WHO promotes comprehensive breast cancer control programmes as part of national cancer control plans. Expanding cancer services requires countries to set priorities and invest wisely based on their specific epidemiological burden and health system resources. Use this Breast Cancer Awareness Month and WHO resources to help increase support for the awareness, early detection, treatment, and palliative care of this disease.
WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative
In 2021, WHO established the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative with the aim of reducing global cancer mortality by 2.5% per year, thus avoiding 2.5 million early deaths due to breast cancer between 2020 and 2040 in women under the age of 70 years. The three pillars of action for achieving this mortality reduction are:
Health promotion for early detection: public health education to improve awareness of the signs and symptoms, and of the importance of early detection and treatment.
Timely diagnosis: public and health worker education on signs and symptoms of early breast cancer so women are referred to diagnostic services when appropriate.
Comprehensive breast cancer management: because cancer management requires some level of specialized care, establishing centralized services, treatment for breast cancer can be optimized.
How to reduce your risk of breast cancer
Reduce your risk of breast cancer by making better behavioural choices which include:
maintaining a healthy weight
staying physically active
avoiding harmful use of alcohol
breastfeeding
quitting tobacco use and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke
avoiding the prolonged use of hormones
avoiding excessive exposure to radiation
Symptoms of breast cancer
Symptoms of breast cancer include:
change in nipple appearance or alteration in the skin surrounding the nipple (areola)
bloody or abnormal nipple discharge
a lump or thickening in the breast
change in breast colour
pitting of the breast skin
breast or nipple pain
There are many reasons for lumps to develop in the breast, most of which are not cancer. As many as 90% of breast masses are not cancerous. Non-cancerous breast abnormalities include benign masses like fibroadenomas and cysts as well as infections. However, If you think you have one or more of the above symptoms, don’t wait and seek medical care immediately.
