By Marc Tamer, Year 12

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2025.

Classed as the most common cancer globally by the WHO, more than 2.3 million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. Unfortunately, this cancer leads in regards to annual cancer-related deaths; in 2022 alone, breast cancer caused approximately 670,000 deaths, classed as the most deadly cancer for women around the world. Fortunately, treatment has evolved and improved significantly, as evidenced by the 5-year survival rate in the early stages now exceeding 90%.

Breast cancer, defined as a condition in which breast cells mutate and become cancerous cells that multiply and form tumours, affects approximately 99% women and 1% men. Over the decades, breast cancer research and treatment have evolved from radical surgeries and limited options to precise, personalised therapies driven by genetic insights and advanced technologies. Unfortunately, one of the most common risks of breast cancer remains: metastatic breast cancer. This occurs when breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, including the brain, bones, liver, and lungs. Studies show that about one in three women who have early-stage breast cancer later develop metastatic breast cancer.

Breast cancer has been known to humankind for centuries, especially due to its physical features—such as a lump—making it relatively recognisable even in historic times. However, in those eras, breast cancer was associated with taboo and embarrassment, making the diagnosis of such diseases rare. Mentions of breast cancer in ancient medical records are also scarce due to its sensitive nature at the time.

In the 1990s, the pink ribbon symbol was created, sparking a global revolution in awareness and advocacy against this cancer. Going back to the very history of breast cancer, the ancient Egyptians were the first to note the disease over 3,500 years ago. It was referred to in those times as a “bulging tumour of the breast that has no cure”, an explanation that modern physicians have accurately associated with breast cancer. In 460 B.C., Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, described breast cancer as a humoral disease. He suggested that it was formed from an excess of black bile, one of the four humours he postulated made up the body. He named the cancer karkinos, a Greek word for “crab,” as the tumour’s shape resembled the legs of a crab.

During these ancient times, due to the absence of a cure, breast cancer often affected the whole body, and thus, surgery was not considered. This condition tragically ended the lives of many, as did other forms of cancer at the time. It was not until the mid-19th century that surgery became an available and viable option for treating breast cancer.

Currently, researchers are working to enhance breast cancer screening methods. Some notable efforts include evaluating and comparing 2D and 3D mammography, using markers such as breast tissue stiffness to identify cancer in women with dense breasts, and incorporating artificial intelligence to improve early detection. Such research is promising in ensuring more accurate breast cancer screening and reducing false diagnoses.

There is significant promise for the future, with research teams worldwide striving to develop better treatments for this disease. Future directions may include targeted gene therapy, immunotherapy, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, all of which could transform how breast cancer is treated.

Breast cancer remains a devastating disease that continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year, reminding us of the urgent need to support research, raise awareness, and hope for a future where no life is lost to this cancer.

Works Cited

Cleveland Clinic. “Breast Cancer: Causes, Stage, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 25 Sept. 2023, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3986-breast-cancer.

National Cancer Institute. “Advances in Breast Cancer Research.” National Cancer Institute, Cancer.gov, 28 Sept. 2022, www.cancer.gov/types/breast/research.

News-Medical. “History of Breast Cancer.” News-Medical.net, 11 Dec. 2009, www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-Breast-Cancer.aspx.

Sun, Lu, et al. “Unveiling the Future of Breast Cancer Therapy: Cutting-Edge Antibody-Drug Conjugate Strategies and Clinical Outcomes.” The Breast, Oct. 2024, p. 103830, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2024.103830. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

WHO. “Breast Cancer.” World Health Organization, 14 Aug. 2025, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer.