Multistakeholder collaboration to enhance breast cancer care

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to honor survivors, remember those lost, and strengthen efforts to save more lives. Globally, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second most common cancer overall. A new analysis by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) warns that unless urgent action is taken, breast cancer cases and deaths will continue to rise, especially in countries with lower levels of human development.

Published in Nature Medicine in February, the IARC study projected that by 2050, the world could see 3.2 million new breast cancer cases each year, which is a 38% increase. The IARC study also forecast 1.1 million related deaths, up 68% from current figures. Worryingly, most of these new cases and deaths will occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The study, which analyzed global data from 185 countries, found that breast cancer affected 2.3 million women and caused 670,000 deaths in 2022 alone. While some high-income countries have seen declining mortality rates, thanks to early detection and advanced treatment, many others continue to experience rising incidence rates of one to five percent annually.

In fact, only seven countries, including Belgium and Denmark, are currently on track to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) goal of a 2.5% annual decline in mortality.

To change this trajectory, the IARC and WHO recommend that governments and health systems adopt stronger prevention, early detection, and treatment policies. This includes integrating breast cancer screening and treatment into universal health coverage, a crucial step to avoid delays in diagnosis and care.

The GBCI, launched in 2021, provides countries with a framework built on three pillars: health promotion and early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive breast cancer management. Evidence shows that when breast cancer is caught early, five-year survival rates can reach 99%. The challenge is ensuring that this becomes the reality for women everywhere, not just in high-income settings.

The Philippines ranks in the “high human development” category with a score of 0.720, but it continues to face serious challenges in breast cancer control. The country has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Southeast Asia, and it remains the most common cancer among Filipino women, accounting for nearly one-third of all cancer cases.

While five-year survival rates in many high-income countries exceed 90%, the figure drops to 44% in the Philippines. Late diagnosis is a major reason. Many Filipino women seek consultation only after symptoms become advanced — when treatment is more complex, costly, and less likely to succeed.

According to Dr. Diana Edralin, president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), awareness and access to healthcare are essential for early detection and effective treatment.

“Filipino women should be mindful of any changes in their breasts,” she emphasized. “A lump or thickening, even if painless, changes in size or shape, redness or dimpling of the skin, or discharge from the nipple should never be ignored.”

The Department of Health (DoH) advises women aged 20 and above to perform monthly breast self-examinations and consult a healthcare provider if they notice anything unusual. Annual clinical breast examinations are also recommended, along with mammography starting at age 50.

Dr. Edralin also urged employees to never skip their annual physical examinations and to consent to breast palpation, which can help detect suspicious changes early.

Beyond awareness, Dr. Edralin believes that multistakeholder collaboration is the key to improving breast cancer care in the Philippines.

“We at PHAP have been partnering with PhilHealth and local government units to establish patient navigation systems,” she said. “We need to put all our efforts together to ensure that patients can access diagnostics, innovative medicines, and treatment on time — and that they can complete their therapies.”

The fight against breast cancer is not one that any single institution can win alone. It requires a united front with healthcare providers, policymakers, the private sector, communities, and women themselves working together to turn awareness into action and ensure that no woman is left behind in the fight against breast cancer.

Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, which represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are at the forefront of developing, investing and delivering innovative medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics for Filipinos to live healthier and more productive lives.