Breast cancer: the advantage of early detection
5 October 2011 - Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women both in developed and developing countries and is also the main cause of cancer for women in Japan. Globally, it is estimated that 519 000 women died in 2004 due to breast cancer. Breast cancer survival rates vary greatly worldwide, ranging from 80% or over in North America, Sweden and Japan to around 60% in middle-income countries and below 40% in low-income countries.
On the first of October, Kobe City lit its Port Tower pink to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month of October campaigns are organized around the world to encourage women to be screened. For WHO, early detection remains the primary means to fight breast cancer and improve survival.