GE Healthcare announces 25 ‘GE Global Pink Ribbons’ to Mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month

GE Healthcare today announced ‘GE Global Pink Ribbons’ to take place in 25 locations around the world during October. Thousands of GE employees will form ‘human ribbons’ to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout the month of October. In the US, Brazil, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Turkey, UAE through to India, China and Japan, employees will dedicate time to draw local, national and international attention to the condition. To follow the local stories during the month and hear more visit the GE Healthcare Newsroom.

“Campaigns such as the ‘GE Global Pink Ribbons’ initiative are tremendously important — they remind us that more people are being diagnosed with breast cancer than ever before,” said John Dineen, president and CEO of GE Healthcare. “We are sending a message around awareness and earlier detection that says, ‘this issue is important and more can be done.’ We must continue to find better ways to address this disease and help patients, so aligned with this initiative, we are also committed to dedicating an even greater share of our R&D budget to continue developing new oncology solutions. ”

Although the mortality rate for breast cancer has been declining in developed economies for many years — largely attributed to systematic breast screening programs — its incidence continues to rise. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women worldwide, comprising 16% of all female cancers. Estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that 519, 000 women died of breast cancer in 2004. Developing countries bear a disproportionate burden for breast cancer, making up an estimated 69% of breast cancer deaths.