On February 3, the World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled a new Global Breast Cancer Initiative Framework that will serve as a road map for achieving the goal of saving 2.5 million lives from breast cancer by 2040. The new framework was released ahead of the World Cancer Day campaign. The framework suggested that the countries should employ the three pillars of health, namely early detection, prompt diagnosis, and complete management of breast cancer.

However, the prognosis for breast cancer varies greatly between and within nations, as more than 80% of breast and cervical cancer fatalities take place in low- and middle-income nations. Breast cancer, according to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, places significant strain on individuals, families, communities, health systems, and economies. Hence, it should be considered a priority for ministries of health and governments everywhere.

In order to develop resource-appropriate, country-specific health systems for the delivery of breast cancer care in low- and middle-income countries, this new framework made use of tried-and-true techniques. With particular critical performance metrics, it specifies three action pillars.

Firstly, it advised nations to prioritize breast cancer early-detection initiatives so that at least 60% of breast cancer cases are identified and receive early-stage treatment. Secondly, the framework noted that the prognosis for breast cancer can be improved by making the diagnosis within 60 days after the initial appearance. The framework further added that treatment should begin within three months of the initial appearance of symptoms or disease. Lastly, managing breast cancer so that at least 80% of patients complete their recommended treatment.

The Breast Cancer Initiative can prevent both the connected, generational effects of these deaths as well as the millions of preventable female cancer deaths. Since 2018, WHO has created integrated programs for women′s and children′s cancers, asking for the eradication of cervix cancer and a doubling of childhood cancer survival rates. Together, these programs have the potential to reverse the generational harm caused by cancer and save more than a million lives over the next ten years.