About 70 per cent of breast cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where access to early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment remains limited, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
The organisation attributed the disparity in survival rates to inequalities in access to quality healthcare, noting that women in poorer countries face a lower chance of surviving the disease.
The disclosure, published on the WHO’s X handle on Monday, comes during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed throughout October, as the organisation calls for improved access to early diagnosis and treatment.
According to the WHO, only 41 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in low-income countries are expected to survive for at least five years, compared with 87 per cent in high-income countries.
The organisation said the figures point to the need for countries to strengthen breast cancer services, expand early detection and ensure patients receive timely and effective treatment.
Breast cancer occurs in every country and can affect women of any age after puberty, although the risk increases with age, the WHO said.
It identified obesity, alcohol consumption, a family history of breast cancer, exposure to radiation, reproductive history and tobacco use among factors associated with an increased risk of the disease.
However, the organisation said approximately 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in women whose only established risk factors are being female and increasing age. It added that most women diagnosed with the disease have no known family history of breast cancer.
The WHO advised women to seek medical attention if they notice unusual breast changes, including lumps or thickening, changes in breast size or shape, skin or nipple changes, and abnormal or bloody nipple discharge.
It said early detection and prompt medical attention can improve treatment outcomes and reduce deaths.
To address disparities in diagnosis and treatment, the WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative targets having 60 per cent of invasive breast cancers diagnosed at stages I or II, ensuring patients receive a diagnosis within 60 days of first presenting with symptoms, and having 80 per cent of diagnosed patients receive the recommended complete treatment.
The organisation has also called on countries to reduce breast cancer mortality by 2.5 per cent annually, a target it says could avert 2.5 million deaths by 2040.
The 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month is themed “Every story is unique, every journey matters,” with a focus on supporting people affected by the disease and improving equitable access to diagnosis, treatment and care.
The WHO said 2.4 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide in 2024, while 8.2 million women were living with the disease at the end of that year.
It added that 694,000 women died from breast cancer globally in 2024, underscoring the continuing toll of the disease.
