TIRANA, Oct. 1 /ATA/ – Albania aims to screen over 50,000 women for breast cancer by the end of 2030, Health and Social Welfare Minister Klodiana Spahiu said on Thursday as the country launched its annual breast cancer awareness campaign as part of the international health campaign Pink October, held every year from October 1 to October 31 to raise awareness about breast cancer.
Spahiu urged women to undergo regular check-ups, stressing that early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment.
“Screening is an act of self-care. When breast cancer is detected at an early stage, the chances of successful treatment are much higher,” Spahiu said, urging women not to delay examinations.
She said expanding screening and early diagnosis was part of a long-term commitment under Albania’s National Cancer Control Plan, rather than an initiative limited to October.
“By the end of 2030, we aim to reach 50,000 women screened, expanding access and gradually strengthening prevention and early diagnosis,” Spahiu said.
According to a statistical report by Albania’s Institute of Public Health, the incidence of breast cancer among women has continued to rise, while mortality has followed a downward trend.
The age-standardised incidence rate increased from 55.8 cases per 100,000 women in 2021 to 64.1 in 2025, while the standardised mortality rate fell from 18 to 16.1 per 100,000 over the same period.
In 2025, Albania’s health system diagnosed 829 new cases of breast cancer among women, with 77.1% of new cases occurring among women aged over 50.
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