Committee on Breast Health

The Committee on Breast Health will work to raise awareness of breast diseases, disseminate best practice recommendations and advocate for better prevention and treatment of these diseases, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Breast health and breast awareness are mandatory issues in global health for women at all ages. Breast health begins with breast awareness — understanding what to look out for makes it easier to detect any changes. 

Lifestyle factors and behaviors are essential for breast health. The committee will focus on primary prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases including breast cancer.

Committee Objectives

• Raising breast awareness

  Promote breast awareness among women globally, focusing on empowering them to recognise what is normal for their breasts and to seek medical attention for any changes. 

• Promoting breast health as a lifelong responsibility

  Advocate for the integration of breast health education, screening, and preventive care into all stages of a woman’s life, beginning at adolescence and continuing through post-menopause. 

• Primary prevention of breast diseases

  Emphasise lifestyle factors—such as diet, physical activity, and the reduction of alcohol consumption—that contribute to breast cancer prevention. Promote breastfeeding, which has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk, as part of this effort. 

• Strengthening the role of OBGYNs in breast disease management: 

  Equip OBGYNs with the knowledge and skills needed to perform routine breast exams, identify early signs of breast cancer, and make appropriate referrals to specialists. 

• Reducing disparities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): 

  Advocate for equitable access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment in LMICs, where breast cancer is often detected late and outcomes are poorer due to limited resources.

To develop knowledge about breast health is not an option, it is a responsibility. OBGYNs as women's physicians should take on this responsibility.

-Professor Christine Solbach

Committee Members

Chair

Christine Solbach - Germany

Members

María José del Río - Chile

Femke Delporte - Belgium

Versha Pleasant - USA  

Paola Iturralde - Mexico

Charulata Bapaye - India  

Modou Kane Gueye - Senegal

Gustavo Ferreiro - Uruguay

Sharon Mass - USA  

WATOG representative

Charmaine Clarisse Tapia-Gutierrez - Philippines

Associate Members

Christian Jackisch - Germany

Ex-Officio Trustee

Néstor César Garello - Argentina