Tunisia is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month this year under the slogan "The quest is up to you, the rest is up to us." The campaign aims to stress the significance of early detection of breast cancer and to continue promoting a culture of prevention and early screening for the disease. According to the Ministry of Health, breast cancer is the leading cancer among women in Tunisia, accounting for 30% of all cancers affecting women.
The Ministry of Health reported that the incidence of breast cancer among women in Tunisia stands at approximately 52 cases per 100,000 women. In 2024, 4,400 new cases of breast cancer were detected, with a tumor mass average of 3 mm, down from 6.5 mm in 2001. The ministry is striving to reduce the tumor mass average to less than 2 mm through education and screening campaigns, which would improve patients' quality of life and control healthcare costs.
The Ministry of Health highlighted the common signs and symptoms of breast cancer, including the appearance of a lump in the breast, usually painless, and discharge from the nipple, which may be mixed with blood or yellowish. Other symptoms include changes in the color of the nipple and skin, the appearance of cracks or wrinkles on the nipple, and localized breast pain. Women are advised to perform regular self-examinations to detect any abnormal changes in the breast.
To prevent breast cancer, the Ministry of Health recommends that women perform regular self-examinations once a month to check for any abnormal lumps or discharge from the nipple. They also advise women to have an annual clinical examination by a doctor or midwife, engage in physical activity, quit smoking, eat more vegetables, avoid fatty foods, and maintain a healthy weight. The ministry is organizing various awareness and educational activities as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
As part of the celebrations, the Ministry of Health is launching several initiatives, including a nationwide campaign to screen for breast cancer in all primary healthcare centers. The ministry has also planned a series of awareness and educational events, including a day for screening and awareness about breast cancer in the workplace on October 7, 2026, and a sensitization day for students and staff at the Ibn Sina School of Nursing on October 13, 2026.
The national strategy for breast cancer screening will be the focus of a training day on October 17, 2026, and an open day in partnership with the Regional Health Directorate on the same day. Additionally, a training day will be organized at the School of Health for midwives and doctors on October 20, 2026. A sensitization and screening caravan will also be organized in partnership with the Regional Health Directorate in Kef and the Tunisian Association of Midwives.
The Ministry of Health has announced the launch of an initiative to support women who have undergone breast removal surgery, aiming to provide them with breast reconstruction and rehabilitation services under the slogan "From diagnosis to treatment." The initiative will be launched on October 21, 2026, at the Burns Hospital in Ben Arous.
Key points
- The Ministry of Health aims to reduce the tumor mass average to less than 2 mm through education and screening campaigns.
- Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women in Tunisia, accounting for 30% of all cancers affecting women.
- The Ministry of Health recommends regular self-examinations, annual clinical examinations, and a healthy lifestyle to prevent breast cancer.
