In a televised interview, Health Minister Koçiu underlined that survival rate of early detected cases of breast cancer is 99%.

“This year’s slogan is ‘Life is worth living’ and it has been picked to raise awareness and remind everyone of the beautiful and valuable things that give life a meaning by looking after ourselves  and undergoing breast cancer screening for free as the only way to save lives,” Koçiu said.

Health Minister noted that early detection enhances survival rate and successful treatment of breast cancer.

“Unfortunately, incidence in breast cancer is pursuing an upward trend in the last years. However, the good news is that the survival rate of early detected cases is 99%,” she said.

Routine clinical breast screening and examinations should be performed in order to ensure early detection of potential breast cancer in women as the best way to beat the disease, Health Minister said.

She noted that removal of the reference system at regional hospitals allows women and girls all over Albania to undergo immediate screening for breast cancer, adding that more than 25 000 mammography tests were performed in 2023.

She said that hospitals and health care centres across the country have been equipped with mammography units, while mobile units have been deployed to remote areas to allow all women and girls undergo screening.

October is breast cancer awareness month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.

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In an appeal on occasion of the breast cancer Awareness month on Tuesday, the government head recalled the importance of the annual Pink October campaign, calling on Albanian girls and women to take time and care about their health.

Rama appealed to all women and girls to take advantage of the free mammography test programme being extended throughout the country, saying early detection of breast cancer remains the most effective treatment of the disease and that undergoing mammography screening can save lives.

“All women and girls should take some time to take care of themselves by undergoing a free mammogram in the network of polyclinics and regional hospitals across the country,” Rama said in a social media post.

Pink October is an international breast cancer awareness month aimed at promoting screening and prevention of the disease.

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The Deputy Defence Minister Dallëndyshe Bici, accompanied by the Deputy Chief of General Staff, major general Manushaqe Shehu, visited the unit where breast cancer screening is underway for servicewomen.

Deputy Defence Minister called on girls and women in the military to undergo mammography test as the only way to detect breast cancer at an early stage.

“I am conveying this message today not in my capacity as Deputy Minister, but as woman and I am addressing this message not only to women in uniform. The only way to save ourselves is early detection of the disease. There could be no life without women,” Bici said.

Bici said that the terrible disease has not spared even women in uniform, so the Ministry of Defense, together with the General Staff of the Armed Forces has undertaken this activity which will continue throughout October and beyond.

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