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On the occasion of World Breast Cancer Prevention Day, Mrs. Maria-Alexandra Kefala, Pediatrician and Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family reminds us of the importance of prevention and early diagnosis, as well as the State’s moves in this direction
THE October 25th has been defined as World Breast Cancer Prevention Daythe most common cancer in women.
I remember it used to be called a “bad disease”. Then, until a few years ago, “intractable disease” and today we now talk openly about his cancer
breast, we are not ashamed, we are not hiding, we are not afraid. Undoubtedly, the women of the 21st century, we are much more “lucky” than the women of other times, because today science gives us many more weapons to fight cancer. Cancer today is neither invincible nor incurable. Cancer today is curable, a chronic condition. Times have changed. Medical science has made leaps and bounds. It is enough for us women to be formal on the “date” with her. With prevention and early diagnosis we can fight and beat breast cancer. And this is the message we need to send today, to all women:
Prevention, annual check-ups and early diagnosis save lives.
Every year, thousands of new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in our country. However, when the disease is detected early, the survival rate of patients increases up to 95%.
Given that the best shield of protection against the disease is information and prevention, the Greek government and the Ministry of Health launched a screening program for breast cancer, which is named after Fofi Gennimata, who fought bravely with disease, without ever hiding or avoiding, as a public figure, talking about it. So the since last year, the state proceeded to provide free preventive mammography to women aged 50 to 69, through which hundreds of women have already been saved, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced today the extension of the screening program to women aged 45-74. In the near future these women will also be texted for a free digital mammogram, free doctor’s exam and free ultrasound.
We must not forget that breast cancer concerns us all and of course we must not forget the great allies we have against it, the “good” habits for detecting the disease in its early stages. Since early diagnosis equals cure in the majority of cases.
Equally important as prevention is the respect for the rights of all women diagnosed with cancer. That is why every action we take is human-centered, protects the woman and is designed to facilitate and offer her safety at all stages of the often difficult journey that follows after the diagnosis of the disease.
Overcoming cancer inequalities in Greece and across the EU is a challenge. Our goal is to continue working continuously
to better understand, address and reduce inequalities in cancer prevention, access, early diagnosis and care.