Pink is not only soft and feminine. Pink is strong and empowered. It can elicit hope and change. This Pink-tober, united we stand to raise awareness and fight breast cancer.

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Breast cancer has been a long-running health concern globally. With female gender as its greatest risk factor, 99% of breast cancer cases occur among women. According to the World Health Organization (2023), even without identifiable risk factors such as history of breast cancer, obesity, and alcohol abuse, about half of breast cancer cases develop among women aged 40 and above. In the Philippines, breast cancer is the third most fatal type of cancer. 27, 163 cases were recorded in 2020 with 9,926 deaths. Among Asia, the Philippines was recorded to have the highest rate of breast cancer in 2019, while ranking ninth globally. To this day, it remains the leading cause of cancer-related death among Filipino women. 

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Early detection of the disease is paramount to ensure better prognosis and health outcomes. However, lack of awareness among the public, limited access to healthcare, and financial constraints hinder individuals from receiving early diagnosis and treatment. Approximately 65% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed during the late stages, while about 70% afflict indigent women with less access to healthcare. 

The Department of Health established the Breast Cancer Control Program (BCCP) which aims to screen breast cancer cases and provide health education to women and at-risk individuals. Along with this, the Breast Cancer Medicines Access Program (BCMAP) was created to provide free chemotherapy for individuals with early-stage breast cancer. However, the continuous prevalence of the disease calls for better and more accessible screening programs and treatment initiatives.
 
The battle against breast cancer is far from over. We can take a step closer to providing a better life for women by conducting awareness campaigns, supporting efforts from various organizations, and advocating for better health services for breast cancer, not just this October.

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