With the cooperation of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Postal Department has issued commemorative stamps to raise awareness about breast cancer

• The Union Health Secretary released these commemorative stamps; he emphasized raising awareness among people and undergoing regular check‑ups
• The Union Health Secretary said that 86.97 crore people have been screened for mouth, breast and cervical cancers, of whom 5.50 lakh are currently undergoing treatment
• "Women's health is the foundation of healthy families and a healthy nation": Mrs. Punya Salila Srivastava

On the occasion of International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Postal Department today issued commemorative stamps on breast‑cancer awareness. The initiative, conceived and launched by the Postal Department, aims to use its extensive network to spread messages about breast‑cancer awareness, early detection and preventive health care. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provided technical input, reference material and background information to prepare the health‑related content for these stamps and postcards.

During the event, Union Health Secretary Mrs. Punya Salila Srivastava and Postal Service Director General Mrs. Manisha Sinha released a set of two commemorative stamps and picture postcards dedicated to breast‑cancer awareness.

Mrs. Srivastava stressed the fundamental role of women's health in building healthy families and a healthy nation, highlighting the 'Healthy Women, Empowered Families' campaign that ran from 17 September to 2 October last year, which focused on women's health through screening and awareness initiatives.

In her address, she reiterated the government's commitment to tackling the growing burden of non‑communicable diseases (NCDs). She highlighted the Ministry's efforts under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs (NP‑NCD), which includes screening for mouth, breast and cervical cancers at more than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs alongside primary health services. She also emphasized the role of the NP‑NCD portal and the Aabha ID under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission in ensuring easy access to health records and continuity of care across facilities.

Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs (NP‑NCD), a total of 86.97 crore screenings for mouth, breast and cervical cancers have been conducted nationwide—49.02 crore for oral cancer, 22.90 crore for breast cancer and 14.05 crore for cervical cancer. Currently, 5.50 lakh patients are under treatment, including 2.70 lakh oral‑cancer, 1.43 lakh breast‑cancer and 1.37 lakh cervical‑cancer cases. She praised the Postal Department for organising a special programme this year, saying it will help spread the campaign’s message and raise public awareness about breast cancer.

The Union Health Secretary noted that more than two lakh new breast‑cancer cases emerged in India in 2024 and estimated that one in every 29 women faces the risk of the disease. He stressed the importance of early detection for better treatment outcomes. He said that despite increased awareness and availability of screening facilities, late diagnosis remains a concern. He appealed to women to undergo regular and self‑examinations for prevention and urged people to make maximum use of government health services and digital health platforms for timely detection and treatment.

Postal Services Director General Mrs. Manisha Sinha highlighted the importance of the postal network in delivering critical public messages to the farthest corners of society. She said commemorative stamps serve as a lasting medium for public awareness and reflect national priorities. She emphasized that the wide reach of postal services will help convey the breast‑cancer awareness message across communities, promote timely screening and mobilise support for affected women. She also thanked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for providing technical input, reference material and background information that helped prepare the health content for the stamps and postcards.

The programme concluded with an address by Additional Director General Dr. Pushpa Lata. She said breast cancer is the most common cancer among Indian women, accounting for over 30 % of all new cancer cases in women. Stressing the importance of early detection, she noted that timely diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes and quality of life. She explained that about one‑third of breast‑cancer cases can be prevented and another one‑third can be cured if detected early. She outlined the full cancer‑care pathway—from screening and referral at primary health centres to diagnosis and treatment at district hospitals, state cancer institutes and tertiary cancer centres. She also highlighted the establishment of ‘day‑care cancer centres’ to provide chemotherapy closer to patients’ homes and urged regular screening and timely treatment to improve women's health outcomes. She added that overcoming fear, stigma and barriers to accessing health services is essential.

Throughout the day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Postal Department jointly worked to convey the breast‑cancer awareness message to the public. Issuing commemorative stamps aims to raise awareness about breast cancer, with special emphasis on self‑screening, early detection and encouraging regular check‑ups. The initiative underscores that timely diagnosis and preventive health care are crucial for better health outcomes for women battling the disease.

About Breast‑Cancer Awareness Month

Breast‑Cancer Awareness Month, observed annually from 1 to 31 October, is an international health campaign that aims to promote early detection, raise awareness and mobilise support for those affected by the disease.