More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Despite these high numbers, only half of the countries in the region currently have early detection programs, which are essential to combat the incidence of this disease.
Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in women worldwide. In Mexico, during 2022, there were 23,790 new cases of breast cancer recorded among the over-20 population (INEGI). 99.4% (7,838) of the deaths from this cause were of women. This trend has been exacerbated by delays in starting treatment, often due to a lack of knowledge about the disease.
At Pro Mujer, we are fully aware of the barriers that prevent women from accessing timely diagnosis and treatment. With the aim of overcoming these obstacles, in 2021, we launched Tod@s por Ellas, a comprehensive breast cancer care program that supports women throughout their healthcare journey. The program comprises the following six essential stages.
- Education and awareness-raising
- Early detection
- Counseling
- Support
- Connections
- Income generation
Three years after the implementation of the program, Pro Mujer has reached over 50,000 women through awareness-raising and educational materials, free mammograms for women with risk factors, emotional support, and counseling on the clinical pathway.
Through the implementation of educational chatbots accessible throughout Latin America, we have succeeded in expanding knowledge about breast cancer and the identification of its risk factors. This innovative tool has allowed us to take care of over 12,200 queries since the beginning of the project.
Tod@s por Ellas has signed up over 1,200 women to receive support and counseling. Since the program’s inception, 8,300 free mammograms have been provided, with 2,575 performed in 2023.
At Pro Mujer, we also understand that the empowerment of women living with this disease does not end with health and wellness support. For this reason, we connect women to our entrepreneurial training platform, where they acquire skills that enable them to improve their income and strengthen their financial autonomy.
An outstanding achievement of the program has been the detection of breast cancer in 30 women, whom we have provided with emotional support and personalized counseling to facilitate their access to timely treatment by foundations and public health institutions. In addition, so far in the program, we have expanded our awareness-raising activities through nine campaigns, one educational day, and five virtual events to raise awareness about prevention and timely treatment.
In 2023, with the firm intention of expanding our impact and making this information accessible to a greater number of Mexican women, we began the process of translating materials on breast cancer, self-care, self-examination, and mammograms into five native languages: Tseltal, Tsotsil, Isthmus Zapotec, Mayan, and Huasteca Nahuatl.
The success and reach of Tod@s por Ellas, generously funded by Avon, has also been possible thanks to our partners: FUCAM, La Cana, Espacio Mujeres, el Instituto de las Mujeres Huichapan (IMMH), Fundación Alma, el Centro de Desarrollo Indígena Loyola (CDIL), and Lady Meche. Their collaboration has been crucial in benefitting more women in Mexico, allowing us to move forward in our mission to support them while they reach their full potential.
