Every year since 1985, the world celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 1993, the World Health Organization established World Breast Cancer Day on October 15th.
The purpose of this Breast Cancer Day is to focus public attention on global problems associated with breast cancer, increasing public awareness of approaches to prevention, early detection and treatment.
Today, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, in both developed and developing countries. Every year in Kazakhstan more than 37 thousand people get cancer. More than 19 thousand people die. The number of registered cancer patients continues to grow and by the end of 2022 their number was over 205 thousand people. In the structure of cancer incidence, breast cancer is in first place, lung cancer is in second, colorectal cancer is in third, and stomach cancer is in fourth. Breast cancer (BC) ranks first in the structure of the frequency of malignant neoplasms of both sexes in the population with a share of 14.7% (2021 - 15.4%). This situation has been stable since 2004; in addition, breast cancer occupies the 1st ranking place and remains stably in this position in the structure of female oncology pathology. The incidence of breast cancer in 2022 in the country as a whole increased to 26.5 per 100 thousand people. (2021 – 26.3). In the structure of cases of breast cancer, it occupies the 1st ranking place in the vast majority of regions and cities of the country of our Republic.
Currently, there is insufficient knowledge about the causes of breast cancer, so early detection of this disease remains the cornerstone of the fight against breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected early and given proper diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer is highly likely to be cured. Cancer screenings for early detection of the most common types of cancer can be completed in clinics at the place of residence, or at the place of attachment at the expense of compulsory social health insurance. Thus, women from 40 to 70 years old should undergo mammography once every two years for early detection of breast cancer. As part of the program of state guarantees for providing citizens with free medical care, medical examinations of the adult population and preventive medical examinations are carried out, one of the main goals of which is to conduct a screening examination aimed at the early detection of cancer. Screening for malignant neoplasms involves identifying tumors at an asymptomatic stage and is aimed at combating both the cancer diseases themselves and their undesirable consequences, i.e. to prevent cancer in general, and mortality from it in particular.
The Department of Oncology of NJSC “Astana Medical University” takes an active part in the Day against Breast Cancer, participating in the “Open Doors Day” event, conducting preventive examinations of women, lectures on the topic “Early diagnosis of breast cancer” in city clinics No. 7 and No. 9.
