Approximately 60,000 women in Italy are diagnosed with breast cancer. With the LILT for Women – Pink Ribbon 2026 campaign, the Italian League for the Fight Against Cancer reiterates the importance of body awareness, self-examination, clinical and instrument-based checks, and screening programs in the early detection of breast cancer.
Presented by the national LILT president Francesco Schittulli in the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies, at Palazzo Montecitorio, the campaign will accompany all of October, the month globally dedicated to breast cancer prevention.
Breast cancer in Italy: incidence, survival, and risk factors
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Italy, accounting for about 30% of all female cancers, and roughly one in seven women could develop it in her lifetime. Thanks to advances in early diagnosis and treatments, five-year survival exceeds 88%; since 2000 mortality has been steadily and consistently falling. According to the data presented, 40% of cases could be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyles and addressing modifiable risk factors: overweight and obesity, limited physical activity, diet, alcohol, and tobacco use.
More Resources for Prevention
In her remarks, Marcello Gemmato reminded that «in 2019 health spending was 114 billion, and by 2026 we reached 134 billion. This is certainly indicative of a strong investment in health, but along with this we must also invest in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. For this reason, in the latest budget law we added half a billion euros more for prevention».
Self-examination and Screening: the Message from LILT
«Starting from knowledge of one’s own body is the first act of prevention, and it’s a gesture that belongs to every woman,» said Schittulli. «Self-examination is simple, it can be learned and practiced regularly, and it helps detect changes promptly. By inviting women to take the “first step,” we want to tell them that prevention begins with each of us and that, thanks to early diagnosis and increasingly personalized therapies, breast cancer is today more curable than ever. That’s why LILT continues to advocate for uniform screening programs across the country and to provide women with its roughly 400 clinics and prevention spaces».
Prevention as a Shared Commitment
«As a member of the LILT National Presidency, and honored to serve, I always thank Prof. Schittulli and all the doctors and volunteers who contribute to LILT with a strong sense of responsibility. I want to emphasize the importance of a collective effort: institutions, healthcare professionals, associations, schools, families, and citizens working together so that prevention becomes a daily choice rather than a one-off appointment; in my view, prevention is the most important investment we must make for our health»,
Maria Stefania Marino.
The Role of Municipalities in Access to Early Diagnosis
Also in attendance at the press conference was Hon. Roberto Pella, vice president of ANCI, who, delivering a brief greeting, recalled: «Prevention must become a permanent culture and a tangible, enforceable right for every woman and man, it cannot be a privilege tied to where you were born or live. For this reason Italian municipalities are and will continue to stand alongside LILT: bringing health promotion to the communities, making early diagnosis and care pathways more accessible, including home-based care, and helping to build a country where data on breast cancer can be reduced even further».
Pink Ribbon 2026: Theme and Local Initiatives
The 2026 edition’s slogan is “The First Step,” paired with the message «The self-check of the breast is the first move to know our bodies. Prevention starts with each of us!». The invitation is to turn body knowledge into the starting point of a journey that includes breast health visits, regular clinical-imaging checkups, and screening programs. Throughout October, the 105 LILT associations and the 20 regional coordinations will promote across Italy breast-health visits, informational meetings, distribution of brochures and informational panels, activities in schools and workplaces, social campaigns, and listening spaces.
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