Vietnam targets breast cancer screening for half of women aged 40-70 by 2030

The Cancer Patient Support Fund - Bright Tomorrow, in partnership with Roche Pharma Vietnam, launched the 'Joining Hands for the Woman I Love 2026' campaign on Monday to raise breast cancer awareness, alongside a forum for patients and their families.

Breast cancer remains a major health burden for Vietnamese women

Speaking at the campaign launch, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and in Vietnam. 

The country records around 25,711 new cases annually, accounting for 28.1 percent of all cancer cases among women.

Tuyen stressed the importance of screening and early detection, noting that the cure rate can reach 90 percent when breast cancer is detected early, while treatment also becomes more manageable.

Breast cancer treatment has advanced significantly in recent years, with options ranging from surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy to hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Treatment plans must be tailored to each patient based on the cancer type, stage and individual condition.

The Ministry of Health has also recently issued a decision to incorporate breast cancer screening and early detection into primary healthcare services, helping expand access to these services at grassroots healthcare facilities.

Earlier, Vietnam introduced a national action plan for breast and cervical cancer prevention and control for 2026-2035. 

Key priorities include raising public awareness, expanding screening, strengthening diagnostic and treatment capacity, developing health data management systems and ensuring equitable access to services.

The plan targets regular examinations and screening for 50 percent of women aged 40-70 by 2030, rising to 70 percent by 2035.

A representative of the Cancer Patient Support Fund - Bright Tomorrow said the organization would hold breast cancer patient club meetings to provide information on treatment options, encourage the sharing of experiences, and offer emotional support to patients during and after treatment.

The fund will also continue its hair donation program for cancer patients, which provides wigs to women undergoing cancer treatment to help them regain their confidence and joy in life.

Raising awareness about breast cancer

Speaking at the event, Dr. Pham Cam Phuong, director of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology at Bach Mai Hospital, said public awareness of breast cancer had changed significantly over the past decade.

In the past, many patients sought medical attention only when tumors had grown large, spread to the axillary or supraclavicular lymph nodes, or metastasized to distant organs such as the lungs, bones and brain. Today, however, more cases are being detected at an early stage.

“This change has been driven in part by public awareness campaigns and free screening programs. As a result, women, particularly those aged over 40, have become more proactive in monitoring their health, recognizing breast abnormalities and seeking timely medical attention,” Dr. Phuong said.

Routine health checkups at government agencies and businesses have also helped detect the disease. In some cases, breast cancer has been identified through ultrasound or mammography even before a doctor could feel a lump.

According to Dr. Phuong, early detection is crucial because patients whose cancer remains localized generally have better treatment outcomes. In suitable cases, breast-conserving surgery may be an option instead of a mastectomy.

A key goal of modern breast cancer treatment is not only to control the disease and achieve remission, but also to help women preserve their physical appearance, confidence and quality of life.