Europa Donna is an independent non-profit organisation that works to raise awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and increased funding for research.

I decided to support the organisation with a donation. At Viva’s we created a special Limited-Edition line of Pink Bags – all the earnings from this line of bags will be donated to the Europa donna Slovenia Organisation. Pink Bag of support is available in two models – Tote Bag and Mini bag.

SHOP PALE PINK TOTE BAG & SUPPORT EUROPA DONNA ORGANISATION

SHOP PALE PINK MINI BAG & SUPPORT EUROPA DONNA ORGANISATION

Every year the month October is dedicated to spreading awareness about how important is to regularly examining your breasts on your own, it can be an important way to find a breast cancer early, when it’s more likely to be treated successfully. 

Too many woman suffer from breast cancer (find some numbers and facts bellow). What you can do is to regularly examine your breasts and to live a healthy lifestyle - eat well and activate your body.

SHOP PALE PINK TOTE BAG & SUPPORT EUROPA DONNA ORGANISATION

Breast Cancer Facts

• There are more than twice as many new breast cancer cases annually than new cases of cancer in any other site.
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the WHO Europe region women with an estimated incidence of 562,500 in 2018.
• Incidence in the EU-28 in 2018 was estimated to be 404,920. 
• 1 in 8 women in the EU-28 will develop breast cancer before the age of 85.
• An average of 20% of breast cancer cases in Europe occur in women when they are younger than 50 years old; 36% occur at age 50–64 and the remaining cases in women above this age.
• Breast cancer therefore affects many women during their years dedicated to working and raising a family.

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Why is Prevention Important?

There are more than twice as many new breast cancer cases annually than new cases of cancer in any other site.

Studies from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have shown that a third of all breast cancer cases can be prevented in Europe by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. That would mean that 187,500 of the 562,500 new cases of breast cancer each year in the WHO Europe region could be prevented.

The increasing number of breast cancer cases may be due to changes in lifestyle habits, increase in sedentary lifestyle, weight gain and obesity and sociological changes such as increasing age at first birth and decreasing number of children born to women.

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Primary prevention

Primary prevention consists of interventions that can prevent/protect an individual from developing breast cancer. A growing body of evidence shows the link between healthy lifestyle choices and a lower risk of developing breast cancer. According to these studies, excess body weight and physical inactivity deserve special attention, since they account for 25-33 percent of all breast cancer cases.

As a result, being active, eating a well-balanced diet and maintaining a normal body weight are three simple but crucial lifestyle choices.

Secondary prevention/early detection

For many years, EUROPA DONNA has been working to ensure that all European women have access to nationwide population-based mammography screening programmes set up according to EU Guidelines. Mammography is widely accepted as the best method to detect breast cancer early, before it becomes palpable. When carried out according to EU Guidelines it is the best form of early detection available today and the scientific evidence shows that it improves mortality rates from the disease.

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Preventing recurrence

After a breast cancer diagnosis, numerous studies have shown that lifestyle factors have an impact on recurrence of breast cancer and outcomes after breast cancer. Therefore, it is important to be physically active, to maintain a normal body weight and eat a healthy diet.

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REFERENCES:

• Stewart BW, Wild CP, editors (2014). World Cancer Report 2014. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer
• Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2018). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: http://gco.iarc.fr/today [accessed on 30 October 2018]. Statistics for Europe are based on WHO Europe region of 53 countries. Data for Andorra, Monaco and San Marino are not included.
• IARC (2002). IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, Volume 6, Weight control and physical activity. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on CaVIVA’S supports Europa donna Slovenia Europa donna is an independent non-profit organisation that works to raise awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and increased funding for research. I decided to support the organisation with a donation. At Viva’s we created a special Limited-Edition line of Pink Bags – all the earnings from this line of bags will be donated to the Europa donna Slovenia Organisation.

SHOP PALE PINK MINI BAG & SUPPORT EUROPA DONNA ORGANISATION