The Global Fight Against Cancer

American Cancer Society and Other Global Health Leaders Address Breast Cancer in Developing World at Harvard University Conference

The American Cancer Society played key roles in organizing and participating in a major conference on breast cancer in the developing world November 3-5 at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. The aim of the conference, which was called Breast cancer in the developing world: meeting the unforeseen challenge to women, health, and equity, was to raise greater global awareness of the epidemic of breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries, where the disease is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among adult women. American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer John Seffrin, PhD, spoke to the global health leaders attending the conference about the lessons of tobacco control and how these lessons can help the breast cancer movement. Additionally, Alessandra Durstine, vice president, Regional Strategies and director, Latin America Programs, American Cancer Society; and Robert Smith, PhD, director of Cancer Screening, American Cancer Society, discussed advocacy planning and population-based screening. Durstine also represented the American Cancer Society on the steering committee for the event. The conference brought together delegates and speakers from around the world who are working on breast cancer, including leading researchers, policy-makers, and advocates. More than 10 cancer control nongovernmental organizations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, which are partners of the American Cancer Society, participated in the conference.

American Cancer Society Partner in Brazil Mounts Successful Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

The statue of the internationally recognized landmark Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), the internationally recognized landmark that overlooks Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is lit pink as part of the FEMAMA breast cancer awareness and advocacy campaign.

The American Cancer Society’s key collaborator in Brazil, the Brazilian breast cancer coalition FEMAMA (Federação Brasileira de Instituções Filantropicas de Apoio a Saude da Mama), has mounted a highly visible and successful breast cancer awareness and advocacy campaign for “Pink October.” As part of the campaign, important monuments throughout the country are lighted in pink as a vivid reminder of the impact breast cancer has on women in Brazil. Bob Chapman, director of Operations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), attended a reception for the highlight of this campaign: the lighting of the statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), the internationally recognized landmark atop a mountain peak overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. As an icon of both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the country as a whole, the statue’s lighting gives unprecedented attention to the cause and the lifesaving work of breast cancer nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Brazil. While in Brazil, Chapman also helped conduct a series of advocacy trainings for member NGOs of FEMAMA. Through its breast cancer awareness campaign, FEMAMA is encouraging the public to improve breast health practices. Cancer control advocates in Brazil are celebrating the recent creation of a new law that mandates breast cancer screening for all women over 40 through the national public health care system.