While breast cancer awareness campaigns take place during breast cancer awareness month, health guidance stresses that continuous preventive habits—ranging from monthly self-exams to maintaining a healthy weight—are important throughout the remaining months of the year to protect against breast cancer, according to Annahar.
Breast cancer accounted for 37% of all female cancer cases and 29% of all female cancer deaths during 2024 within the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region. Awareness campaigns intensify during breast cancer awareness month, casting a light on initiatives dedicated to the most common cancer among women. While these yearly campaigns have played a vital part over time, maintaining daily protective habits during the remaining eleven months is critical for lowering personal risk, according to Annahar.
Practicing Monthly Self-Exams And Annual Mammograms
Monthly self-examinations are recommended starting at age 20. This practice allows a woman to spot changes directly and consult a physician even before her annual screening is due, according to Annahar. Mammograms become the cornerstone of early detection later in life.
Mammograms are essential and act as the most effective tool for catching the disease early, starting at age 40. For individuals with a family history of the illness, consulting a doctor about additional required measures is advised, according to Annahar.
Control Weight and Eat Antioxidants to Reduce Cancer Risks
Obesity is recognized as a contributing risk factor that can elevate the likelihood of developing the disease, making weight management a necessary step, according to Annahar. Alongside weight control, regular exercise helps decrease the threat of cancer and breast cancer specifically. Avoiding smoking across all its forms removes a well-known risk factor linked to multiple cancers, including breast cancer.
Diets focused on foods rich in antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, with fruits and vegetables serving as primary sources, according to Annahar.
Monitoring Physical Changes Without Delay
Any unusual bodily sign requires prompt medical consultation. Women experiencing a lump in the breast or under the arm, an inverted nipple, unexpected discharge, skin puckering, nipple redness, or skin thickening should consult a doctor immediately, according to Annahar.
World Health Organization Launches Global Breast Cancer Initiative
Within the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, breast cancer accounted for 37% of all female cancer cases and 29% of all female cancer deaths during 2024, pointing to an urgent need to improve early detection and treatment accessibility.
Through early detection, timely treatment, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support, both survival rates and life quality can be enhanced.
The World Health Organization launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative in 2021, focusing on health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive breast management. The initiative aims to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5% annually, thereby averting millions of deaths worldwide by the year 2040.
