Breast cancer, a mural in Milan to remember the importance of prevention
The friend we would all like to have: the one who reminds us of the importance of taking care of ourselves. This is how the artist SteReal (Stefania Marchetto – Stradedarts – Urban Gallery Milan) chose to portray Saint Agatha, protectress of Catania and of women affected by breast diseases: in fact, it is said that the Saint had her breasts amputated in following his refusal to give himself to the then Sicilian Consul Quinziano in the 3rd century AD. The SteReal mural will appear in Piazza Monumentale 8, in Milan. This is the second act of the campaign “Every breast has a story, screening can tell it to you”, which thanks to the initiative of Europa Donna Italia – together with the Lombardy Region and ATS-Milan and with the patronage of SIRM, GISMa, ONS, AITeRS, AIOM Foundation and Senonetwork – involves the representation of murals inspired by Sant’Agata in many cities in Italy.
The test that saves lives, even for the youngest
The work in Milan follows the one already visible in Foggia, the starting city of the campaign. And it represents an opportunity to remind all women of the importance of prevention through mammography screening at the end of the pink month dedicated to prevention. In Lombardy, ATS Metropolitan City of Milan offers three screening programs to the population, including the mammographic one, as well as that of the colon, rectum and cervix, which have proven effective in reducing specific mortality (the number of deaths caused from a particular tumor) and, for colorectal and cervical cancers, also the specific incidence (the number of new cases).
In 2023, after making up for the delays due to the pandemic period, mammography screening was extended to 45-49 year olds (in 2022 it was reserved for women aged between 50 and 74), and today there are over 128,000 who in the first months of this year they carried out the exam. The importance of prevention is punctuated by the numbers: during 2022, the program allowed over 900 women an early diagnosis of breast cancer, and access to the diagnostic-therapeutic pathways provided within the connected Breast Units.
Where and how to have a screening mammogram
In the territory of ATS Metropolitan City of Milan there are 31 supply points belonging to 17 entities: ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, ASST Nord Milano, ASST Melegnano e della Martesana, ASST Ovest Milanese, ASST Rhodense, ASST Lodi, Clinica San Carlo Paderno Dugnano, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, IC Humanitas and Humanitas S. Pio Women who are part of the target category can follow the instructions in the letter received at home, or book an appointment independently via the PrenotaSalute portal: www.prenotasalute.regione.lombardia.ita new method promoted by the Region’s “I don’t wait” campaign.
The commitment of Europa Donna Italia
“The topic of screening has always been central to us. In fact, it represents the most effective tool for early diagnosis. We have developed a real manifesto that summarizes women’s needs and at the same time highlights some gaps to fill”, commented Rosanna D’Antona, President of Europa Donna Italia. The objectives of the campaign are therefore to increase women’s adherence to screening. But the institutions must also do their part – underlines the association – by updating the invitation methods, systematically checking familiarity at first access, also explaining concepts such as familiarity and dense breasts, and standardizing screening from 45 to 74 years in all regions, and finally bridging the access disparities between the North and South of Italy.
