4 October 2021
Breast Cancer Awareness Month October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in New Zealand. This year’s focus is encouraging workplaces to go ‘Pink For A Day’ to raise vital funds for breast cancer education, research and patient support. Breast cancer is the most common cancer for Kiwi wāhine (women), and the third most common cancer in New Zealand overall. Every day, nine wāhine in New Zealand will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 650 will die of the disease each year in this country. Around 25 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand each year also. There would be few people who have not been affected in some way by breast cancer, whether through the experience of a relative, friend, colleague or their own personal diagnosis. Breast screening through selfexamination, mammograms and ultrasound saves lives. These days, 80 percent of people diagnosed with breast cancer will survive 10 years or more. This New Zealand statistic increases to 92 percent if the cancer is detected on a screening mammogram. The New Zealand breast screening programme offers free mammograms and yet 30 percent of eligible wāhine are not participating in the programme and receiving regular checks. Breast Cancer Awareness Month aims to inform and educate as well as encourage open conversation about breast cancer. It’s about wāhine of all ages understanding how to examine themselves and what changes to look for in their breasts; and when
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