SEMI-POSTAL STAMPS AS HEALTH PROMOTION TOOLS. BREAST CANCER

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) in 2021 with a goal to reduce breast cancer (BC) mortality by 2.5% per year, saving the lives of 2.5 million women by 2040. WHO defines three key strategies of the GBCI: health promotion (HP) for early disease detection; timely diagnosis, and holistic management of BC. The purpose of this study was to trace the history of the "Breast Cancer Research Stamp" (BCRS) as an HP tool to raise awareness and funds for BC research. The article is part of a series of research studies dedicated to the semi-postal stamps, which have an added financial value, collected for a specific health cause. Methods: A literature review in 2024 of documents and scientific publications was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar with the keywords "semi-postal stamp" and "BC". Results: The edition of the first BCRS in 1997 was a result of the energetic actions of three prominent advocates in the fight against BC: Dr. Balazs Bodai, Elizabeth Mullen and David Goodman. BCRS’s success was spectacular. By the end of 2005, $47.9 million had been raised for BC research. Further, over 70 countries have issued their BCRS. Conclusions: BCRS transcended national boundaries, achieving global recognition as a symbol of the collective fight against BC. Beyond its practical impact, BCRS represents a unique blend of art and advocacy, inspiring generations with its evocative and poetic call to action: "FUND THE FIGHT. FIND A CURE".