Breast cancer: Early detection, timely diagnosis, comprehensive care key

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is marked across the world every year from October 1 to 31.

The month is celebrated globally every October to create awareness on breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours. If left unchecked, the tumours can spread throughout the body and become fatal. Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast.

This year, the theme is “No one should face breast cancer alone”.

Breast cancer is said to be 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 women with 70 per cent mortality occurring in resource-constrained settings. 

Global estimates

Experts give some key facts on breast cancer as causing 670,000 deaths globally in 2022 and that roughly half of all breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors other than sex and age. It is said to be the most common cancer in women in 157 countries out of 185 in 2022.

Global estimates reveal striking inequities in the breast cancer burden, according to human development. For instance, in countries with a very high Human Development Index (HDI), one in 12 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and one in 71 women die of it.

Breast cancer occurs in every country in the world and less than one per cent occurs in men.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 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.

The WHO has said: “In many resource-constrained settings, breast cancer affects a relatively younger population significantly contributing to premature mortality and maternal orphans.”

Global Breast Cancer Initiative

The WHO launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) in 2021 to reduce mortality rates by 2.5 per cent 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.  

Some warning signs of breast cancer include a new lump in the breast or armpit, thickening or swelling of part of the breast, irritation or dimpling of breast skin, redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast, pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area, nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood, any change in the size or the shape of the breast and pain in any area of the breast.

This year's celebration highlights the importance of early detection, timely diagnosis, comprehensive treatment and the need to provide support for persons with live experience, including through patient navigation.

It also provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to review progress, reflect and renew commitments to tackling the disease and build momentum to address the existing disparities and challenges in access to breast cancer care. 

Objectives

The WHO focus on this year's Awareness Month is to raise awareness and drive behaviour change by promoting advocacy, awareness, and behaviour change communication to increase the uptake of breast cancer screening and early diagnosis, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

 Also, it hopes to increase facilitated knowledge sharing and partnerships by providing a platform for the dissemination of breast cancer information, fostering knowledge exchange, and strengthening collaborations and partnerships for breast cancer control.

The WHO is also encouraging countries to adopt and implement the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) with a focus on early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive care.

It is also calling on nations to promote patient support and address disparities by highlighting the importance of patient-centred care, including medical, emotional, psychological, and social support through patient navigation systems while addressing gender and socio-economic disparities in access to breast cancer care.