A national campaign dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.
Every October in France, the Pink October campaign reminds people of the importance of organised screening for breast cancer, the most common cancer among women. Regional health agencies are working alongside institutional partners, associations and health professionals to raise awareness, provide information and encourage participation in screening.
Pink October is an annual breast cancer awareness campaign that began in 1985. Originating in the United States, it first appeared in France in 1994, spearheaded by Marie Claire magazine and the Estée Lauder group. Together, they created the association ‘Let’s Talk About Breast Cancer !’, renamed ‘Pink Ribbon’ in 2020.
To better understand the challenges involved in this campaign, it is worth looking at some key figures: in 2018, Santé publique France recorded 12,146 deaths per year linked to breast cancer. Although mortality has been declining since the 1990s, incidence, i.e. the number of new cases over a given period and for a given population, is on the rise. In fact, France has the highest incidence rate of breast cancer in the world.
However, survival rates for those affected have improved significantly thanks to medical advances and increased awareness. A national screening programme has been set up, offering screening to all women aged between 50 and 74 in order to detect the disease as early as possible and reduce mortality rates. In 2023, according to Santé publique France, 48.2% of women concerned participated in this programme. According to an unpublished survey published by the Ligue contre le cancer (League Against Cancer) during Pink October, 8 out of 10 women (77%) say they are in favour of setting up mobile screening units that travel to their places of residence.
The event addresses a number of issues: raising awareness about screening, improving the daily lives of women affected by this disease and advancing research. Cancer detected early offers much better chances of recovery and therefore survival. Despite the national programme, around 60% of women affected do not participate. This is mainly because many of them consider themselves to be in good health and do not believe they are at risk.
In light of these findings, one message stands out: take care of yourself and get screened. But the fight against breast cancer is not limited to individual commitment. More than ever, it calls for solidarity and collective engagement. So, how can we turn these findings into hope and action?
Many associations and companies get involved in Pink October every year. The Pink Ribbon Association reports that since 2004, nearly four million euros have been raised for research and support. In addition, pink-coloured promotional items (pens, ribbons, T-shirts, caps, etc.) are available, with some of the profits going to research. At the local level, more visible symbols are also promoted: for example, the Montpellier Cancer Institute (ICM) organises the pink umbrella campaign, which has become a symbol of screening.
Finally, UN Women France reiterates the importance of supporting women and the right to gender equality: “Behind every journey, there is a story of courage and resilience […] Pink October is also an opportunity to reaffirm that listening to and supporting women are inseparable from the fight for their rights and gender equality.”
Emilie Bouzanne Des Mazery