Health action beyond Pink October: experience report

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the neoplasm that most kills women over 50 years of age in the world, being the most incident cancer in 2020. In this sense, the objective is to report on a campaign carried out in November, which elucidated the community about measures for the prevention of this neoplasm and identified and demystified myths related to breast cancer.

REPORT: “Laço Rosa o Ano Inteiro” was an action carried out in two meetings (one online and the other face-to-face) with the participation of women and men from a Basic Health Unit and a local company. The purpose of the campaign was to inform about breast cancer, as well as its signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. For this, dynamics, attractive resources and explanations were used to facilitate the transfer of information.

DISCUSSION: It was observed that a large number of participants believed that the family component was mandatory for the development of the neoplasm, in addition to having inadequate knowledge about mammography, such as the myth that having silicone prevents the performance of this exam and that it, by itself, causes the cancer. Such findings are similar to those found in the literature, as well as the fact that none of the participants knew the correct period for mammographic follow-up. As limitations of the report, the low number of people involved and the short duration of the campaign to raise awareness of those involved stand out.

CONCLUSION: The campaign carried out identified that myths and lack of knowledge still permeate the popular imagination about breast cancer, and this reality makes it difficult to adhere to preventive measures and, consequently, to reduce the rates of this cancer. Actions like the one carried out here, through playful methods for health education, contribute to changing this scenario.