Pink October
Project PINK BLUE is changing the way Africans think about cancer.
October every year is commemorated in Countries across the world as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and all efforts are devoted to increasing attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease. In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685 000 deaths globally. As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer (World Health Organization, 2021). In Nigeria, there were 28,380 new cases of breast cancer, with 14,274 deaths recorded. (IARC Globocan, 2020).
These statistics make breast cancer by far the most common cancer in women worldwide, both in the developed and developing countries. In low- and middle-income countries the incidence has been rising up steadily in the last couple of years due to increasing urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles.
Currently, there is not sufficient knowledge about exact causes of breast cancer; therefore, early detection of the disease and commencement of treatment remain cornerstones of breast cancer control. If breast cancer is detected early, and adequate treatments are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. The majority of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where most women with breast cancer are diagnosed at late stages mainly due to lack of awareness about early detection, and barriers to health services.
It is against this background that Project PINK BLUE annually rolls out her drums to join the International Community in commemorating the INTERNATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH every October, with three (3) fold Breast Cancer awareness activities.
Since 2015, Project PINK BLUE has hosting Pink October in Lagos and many other cities across Nigeria. The Pink October activities are as follows: :
- Breast cancer awareness walk, race & cycling against cancer
- Breast cancer awareness lecture/presentations
- Free Breast & Cervical Cancer screenings
- PINK OCTOBER for communities
For more information, please watch the Pink October Video from 2015 and 2017