Breast cancer awareness

 October 1st- 31st, is dedicated to create awareness about breast cancer. The theme for this year is "Give Hope. Save lives"! 

How do you help create awareness?Enlighten everyone around you about the importance of going for routine check up, share helpful information. 

The theme color is pink, you can create a physical awareness by wearing or use  more of pink clothing all through the month, and make sure you tell someone, everyday about the importance of breast self- examination ( BSE).

There are about 1.38 million new cases and 458 000 deaths from breast cancer each year (IARC Globocan, 2008). Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide, both in the developed and developing countries. In low- and middle-income countries the incidence has been rising up steadily in the last years due to increase in life expectancy, increase urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles.

Currently there is not sufficient knowledge on the causes of breast cancer, therefore, early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is detected early, and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. If detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option. In such cases, palliative care to relief the suffering of patients and their families is needed.(WHO).