World Breast Cancer Day: prevention is a shared responsibility
Every October 19, World Breast Cancer Day reminds us that prevention is not just an option, but a shared responsibility. In 2025, this date takes on special relevance in Spain, where the numbers, challenges and opportunities for improvement challenge us as a society.
Figures that speak clearly
According to the report Cancer figures in Spain 2025 , prepared by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and the Network Spanish Cancer Registry (REDECAN), it is estimated that in 2025 the number of new cancer cases will be more than 296,000, of which around 36,000 will be breast, which represents almost 29% of cancers in women.
The Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) points out that one in eight women will develop this disease throughout their lives. Although five-year survival exceeds 85%, the key remains early detection and equitable access to effective treatments es.
Occupational prevention with a gender perspective
The Spanish Strategy for Safety and Health at Work 2023-2027 incorporates for the first time specific measures for workers with oncological diseases, and it does so from a comprehensive perspective, recognizing not only its impact on health, but also on the working, emotional and social life of working people.
Health surveillance with a preventive approach as well as the establishment of early detection protocols is marked as a priority. In addition, it is also recognized that cancer, as a long-term disease, requires sensitive management of return to work. For this reason, measures are included such as ad suitability for the job according to the person's physical and emotional capabilities, fl time flexibility and progressivity in reincorporation and f or rmation in emotional support for middle managers and teams.
Obviously this requires that preventive work have eg gender perspective, through the design of specific protocols for workers, the visibility of invisible risks in feminized sectors, and the promotion of adapted awareness campaigns.
The Spanish Breast Cancer Federation (FECMA), in its 2025 manifesto, insists that prevention must be comprehensive:
Early detection saves lives, but so does a society that does not leave behind those who suffer from the disease
Talking about prevention is talking about institutional commitment, but also about organizational culture, empathy in work environments, campaigns that inform without alarming and public policies who prioritize life.
