ISLAMABAD: With breast cancer accounting for an estimated 30,682 new cases among women in Pakistan, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker has stressed the urgent need to raise public awareness, saying education is essential to tackling the disease effectively.
Speaking exclusively to WE News during a breast cancer awareness campaign at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, Baker emphasised that educating women about breast cancer is crucial to improving public understanding and strengthening efforts to combat the disease.
چھاتی کے سرطان کے خلاف جنگ میں آگاہی سب سے اہم ہتھیار ہے، خواتین میں شعور پیدا کرنا اور بروقت تشخیص کی اہمیت اجاگر کرنا ناگزیر ہے۔ امریکی ناظم الامور نیٹلی اے بیکر کی وی نیوز سے خصوصی گفتگو۔ https://t.co/zL98f7auGY
— WE News (@WENewsPk) October 13, 2026
“Public awareness is key in the fight against any disease,” Baker said, underscoring the importance of ensuring that women have access to information about breast cancer and the services available to them.
The US diplomat praised the services of PIMS’s Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre and commended Dr Ayesha Sani for her efforts to promote breast cancer awareness with government support.
Baker said she was delighted to join Dr Sani in the campaign, adding that this was the third consecutive year she had participated in the initiative.
Read Also: AI Mammography Helps Radiologists in Early Breast Cancer Detection
Pakistan’s breast cancer burden highlights need for awareness
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates, Pakistan recorded approximately 30,682 new breast cancer cases among women that year, making it the country’s most frequently diagnosed cancer among women. An estimated 15,552 women died from the disease in Pakistan in 2022.
First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari urges women to prioritise early detection and spread awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
@AseefaBZ https://t.co/TONYRR87ML— team_bilawal (@NEWS_BILAWAL) October 13, 2026
Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that 2.4 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 694,000 died from it in 2024. The figures underline the importance of awareness campaigns, early diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, widely known as Pinktober, is observed every October to promote public education, encourage early detection, support patients and survivors, and improve access to care.
There is a 60% survival difference between woman with #BreastCancer living in high-income countries vs those living in low-and-middle income countries.
Global Breast Cancer Initiative is raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and advocating for stronger health systems to improve survival for all https://t.co/r2BH99xt9L
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 12, 2026
The WHO’s global theme for 2026 is “Every story is unique, every journey matters,” highlighting the different experiences of people affected by breast cancer and the importance of compassionate, equitable healthcare.
Health experts encourage women to seek medical advice about unusual breast changes, including a new lump, changes in breast shape or size, skin dimpling or unusual nipple discharge. Such symptoms do not necessarily indicate cancer, but prompt medical evaluation is important.
Read Also: Self-Examination: First Step in Breast Cancer Prevention
Baker’s participation at PIMS highlighted the role of public awareness initiatives and screening services in addressing breast cancer in Pakistan, where improving access to reliable information, early diagnosis and timely treatment remains a major public health priority.
