#1 Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness: Breast Cancer is the most common cancer globally, with approximately 2.3 million new cases each year. It accounts for 12.5% of all cancer cases and represents a significant burden on public health, especially in women. Around 70% of breast cancer-related mortality occurs in resource-constrained settings, where health system limitations, low awareness, and poor early detection contribute to late-stage diagnoses and higher death rates.

In many low-resource environments, breast cancer affects younger women, leading to premature mortality and social challenges, such as maternal orphans. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) in 2021, aiming to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5% annually by 2040. This would result in saving 2.5 million lives through three strategic pillars:

Health promotion for early detection,
Timely diagnosis,
Comprehensive breast cancer management.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), held every October, seeks to increase global awareness, particularly emphasizing early detection and diagnosis. It also underscores the importance of providing support to those with lived experience of breast cancer, including patient navigation systems that guide patients through the complex care process. This global event serves as a moment for all stakeholders to assess progress and renew commitments to addressing the disparities in access to breast cancer care.

Objectives

Raise Awareness and Drive Behaviour Change: Promote advocacy, awareness, and behavioural change to increase early detection and screening, especially in resource-constrained settings.

Facilitate Knowledge Sharing and Partnerships: Provide a platform for sharing breast cancer-related information, fostering collaboration, and strengthening partnerships to control breast cancer.

Support National Adoption of WHO’s GBCI: Encourage countries to implement GBCI’s framework, focusing on early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive care.

Promote Patient Support and Address Disparities: Emphasize patient-centered care, including emotional, psychological, and social support, while addressing gender and socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer care.

Participants

Key participants in the Breast Cancer Awareness Month event include:

WHO headquarters, regional and country offices
Ministries of health from various countries
Healthcare providers
Development partners, multilateral agencies, donors
NGOs, academic institutions, philanthropic organizations
Civil society groups
Individuals with lived experiences of breast cancer

This event provides a platform to reflect on current challenges and to coordinate efforts to reduce the global burden of breast cancer through effective public health interventions.

Important Points

Importance of BRCA Testing:

9-17% of BRCA carriers face a risk of breast cancer by age 80, while 10-44% risk ovarian cancer.
Testing helps patients and at-risk family members explore preventive and early detection methods, like regular mammograms, chemoprevention, or prophylactic surgeries.
BRCA mutations cause around 26% of breast cancer cases and 21-25% of ovarian cancer cases in certain populations.

Significance in India:

One in nine Indians is at risk of developing cancer in their lifetime.
India’s large population makes it a public health priority to address hereditary cancers, given the burden of BRCA mutations.

Barriers to BRCA Testing:

There is a high cost for BRCA testing in India, ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000, which can hinder widespread adoption.
While population-based BRCA screening has been effective in high-income countries, accessibility in lower-income populations remains a challenge.

BRCA Testing Impact:

BRCA mutations are found in 55% of ovarian cancer cases and 45-65% of hereditary breast cancer cases.
Early detection through testing has proven beneficial for high-risk individuals.

Need for Equity:

The main concern is identifying BRCA carriers before cancer develops and ensuring testing is equitable for all women, not just those who can afford it.

Technological Advancements:

New technologies like gene sequencing and AI have improved cancer testing.
Public education and financial support are crucial for broadening access to BRCA testing in India.