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All over the world, pink ribbons are popping and gathering millions of women and men sensitive to the Breast Cancer issue. The reason for that pink craze is…October, better known these days as Pink October, or Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every year, to join this pink dance, the Belgian government and the Cancer Prevention and Screening Center double their efforts to shed light on this disease that affects one in nine women in Belgium. The purpose is to emphasize the importance of early detection and remind people of the life-saving screening gestures they can perform at home. A crucial initiative, and one that we had to discuss here!
This year, on the Flemish side of Belgium, it’s singer Dana Winner who was named ambassador for the Breast Cancer Prevention and Screening Program. Simultaneously, organizations such as Think Pink and Pink Ribbon are throwing various actions and campaigns throughout the month of October to raise awareness about breast cancer, including the unmissable Pink March, which will have its eighth edition on October 31 this year. As a critical topic, awareness contributes to many women detecting the disease at an early stage, which often makes treatment less invasive and increases the chances of recovery.
The Pink October awareness campaign aims on one hand to encourage women to get screened for breast cancer in a timely manner; on the other hand, it seeks to provide emotional support to all those who are battling the disease or mourning those who succumbed to it. This year, the campaign places particular emphasis on the support system of patients affected by the disease. Indeed, the impact of the diagnosis on loved ones has long been overlooked, whether it's a partner, children, family, friends, or colleagues.
Another aspect of this disease that is often overlooked is breast cancer in men. In Belgium, approximately a hundred men are diagnosed each year. Breast cancer is not exclusively a women's issue. However, there is no early screening program for breast cancer in men, even though men should also be able to recognize warning signs such as a lump in their breast or some nipple discharge. Because men pay less attention to it and generally do not perform self-examinations, breast cancer is usually diagnosed at a more advanced stage in men, with all the associated consequences.
Breast cancer ultimately concerns us all, directly or indirectly. In fact, it is rare these days not to have had contact with this disease. Even within an organization like VIAGE, we have always been particularly sensitive to the issue because, like everyone else, we have been affected by it. Thus, individually and collectively, we have already expressed our support for the awareness campaign that takes place every October. For example, we have already hosted the "Geef om Haar Fonds" event by Think Pink and participated in the "Race for the Cure®." And we have done and will continue to do so because together, we are stronger.
