Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings focus to the importance of early detection

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to underscore the importance of education and early detection in combating the disease. In the Philippines, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, particularly among women of all ages.

Recent reports indicate that out of 86,484 total cancer diagnoses, 27,163 were breast cancer cases. The disease claimed the lives of 9,926 Filipino women, making it the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Philippines. In 2019, the country had the highest breast cancer rate in Asia and ranked ninth globally, underscoring the urgency of addressing this health crisis.