The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for urgent action to improve early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, warning that thousands of women across the Eastern Mediterranean Region continue to die from the disease amid unequal access to quality healthcare.
The call came as the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with this year’s theme, “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters,” highlighting the different experiences of women living with breast cancer and the devastating impact the disease can have on families.
According to WHO, breast cancer accounted for 37 per cent of all cancer cases among women and 29 per cent of female cancer deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2024.
Globally, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, with an estimated 2.4 million women diagnosed and 694,000 deaths recorded in 2024.
The health agency said the figures underscore the need for governments to strengthen early detection and ensure women can access timely and quality treatment regardless of their location, income or social background.
Dr Adham Ismail, Officer-in-Charge of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, declared: “Every experience of cancer is different. But no woman’s chances of survival should depend on where she lives, what she earns, or her background.”
WHO urged women to seek medical attention immediately if they notice unusual changes in their breasts, including a new lump or thickening, changes in size or shape, alterations in the skin or nipple, or abnormal nipple discharge.
The organisation said early detection, timely diagnosis and effective treatment can significantly improve survival and quality of life.
It, however, expressed concern that women in vulnerable and low-resource communities continue to face greater barriers to diagnosis and treatment, contributing to poorer outcomes.
WHO said efforts are under way across the Eastern Mediterranean Region to strengthen breast cancer prevention, early detection and access to care. Where mammography screening is not feasible, it said clinical breast examination, public awareness and prompt referral can help identify cases earlier.
The Cairo Call to Action on Breast Cancer, endorsed by Member States during the 2025 session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, provides a framework for improving the regional response.
The framework calls for increased public awareness, stronger primary healthcare services, greater investment in diagnostic and treatment facilities, expanded psychosocial support and patient navigation, improved use of health data and stronger regional collaboration.
At the global level, the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative, launched in 2021, is focused on health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive breast cancer management.
The initiative aims to reduce breast cancer mortality by 2.5 per cent annually and avert 2.5 million breast cancer deaths by 2040.
Ismail urged countries to translate commitments into concrete action, stating, “Detect earlier. Diagnose faster. Treat better”.
WHO stressed that improving access to quality breast cancer care is not only about saving lives but also about protecting families and ensuring that women who survive the disease can go on to live healthy and productive lives.
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