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Zacharoula Sidiropoulou: Pink October Reality Check Point

Zacharoula Sidiropoulou/researchgate.ne

Sep 9, 2025, 12:16

Zacharoula Sidiropoulou: Pink October Reality Check Point

Zacharoula Sidiropoulou, Senior Consultant Breast Surgical Oncologist at Hospital São Francisco Xavier, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Pink October Reality Check Point

As we prepare for Pink October, let’s talk about what breast cancer awareness really means.

Not everything about breast cancer is pink ribbons and inspirational quotes.
Today, I sat with a 34-year-old mother from Nepal who discovered her lump 16 months ago. She waited 8 months because she was too scared and 8 more months because she had no access to a timely adequate evacuation. Because she has no money. Because she heard “cancer equals death” and believed it.

By the time she reached us, her options are limited.

This is the reality we don’t post about in October:

1 in 3 women globally are diagnosed at advanced stages
Many discover lumps but delay seeking help due to fear, stigma, or cost
“Fighting” language doesn’t help when you’re exhausted from chemo
Pink campaigns often focus on survivors, but what about those we lose?
Early detection saves lives, but only if healthcare is accessible

In my 20+ years treating breast cancer, I’ve learned:

The most important awareness isn’t about pink products or feel-good stories. It’s about honest conversations. About making screening accessible. About supporting women through the hardest thing they’ll ever face—without telling them to “stay positive.”

What if this October we talked about:

Real prevention strategies (not just early detection)
Healthcare disparities that kill women in preventable ways
Supporting caregivers who are also struggling
Advanced stage realities, not just success stories
Making quality care accessible everywhere

The woman I met today? We’re helping her access treatment. But she shouldn’t have had to wait 16 months. She shouldn’t have had to choose between feeding her children and seeing a doctor.

That’s the awareness we really need. Pink October can be powerful—if we use it to address real barriers, not just sell pink merchandise.

Healthcare professionals: Work to make quality breast cancer care accessible to every woman, everywhere.”

More from Zacharoula Sidiropoulou on OncoDaily.