Mia Zia joins BIG in the fight against breast cancer:
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Breast International Group (BIG) and as part of Pink October, Mia Zia is launching a limited edition collection of pink socks and ribbons in support of breast cancer research. BIG, the world's largest academic network dedicated to this cause, continues to conduct crucial research to improve treatments. Thanks to this collaboration, every purchase contributes directly to this medical breakthrough. Together, we can make a difference. 💗

25 YEARS OF RESEARCH IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER: YOUR DONATIONS
AND RESEARCH GO HAND IN HAND

The Brussels-based Breast International Group (BIG), the world's largest academic network dedicated to breast cancer research, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion of Pink October, BIG is reminding us that research, which is cruelly under-funded, is crucial to improving patient survival and quality of life. To make up for this shortfall, BIG is organizing several activities to highlight the importance of donations to support academic research.

Without donations, research cannot progress: it is crucial to finding treatments for all types of breast cancer, including the most advanced or rarest forms.

"Research represents hope for all women affected by breast cancer, especially those living with advanced and incurable cancer," says Dr Martine Piccart, co-founder of the BIG and Scientific Director at the Institut Jules Bordet.

"In over two decades of research, we have been able to develop less mutilating surgeries, and find more effective, less burdensome, less toxic and less time-consuming treatments. But many questions remain, for example: how can we prevent breast cancer from spreading to other organs? Who really needs chemo- or radiotherapy? Aren't some breast cancers over-treated? How can we better help young women with breast cancer, and why is this important? BIG needs the public's support to answer these questions," she continues.

BIG: 25 years of research and progress

Founded in 1999 by Drs Martine Piccart and Aron Goldhirsch, BIG plays a crucial role in breast cancer research. With over 50 academic research groups and some 10,000 researchers worldwide, BIG conducts large-scale clinical trials leading to more effective, targeted treatments.

- HERA: Development of a targeted treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer, which is particularly aggressive and accounts for 15-20% of all breast cancers.

- MINDACT: Identification of patients who can avoid chemotherapy thanks to a genetic test.

- OlympiA: Development of a treatment that reduces the mortality risk of hereditary breast cancer by
32%.

- POSITIVE: Demonstration that young patients can discontinue hormone therapy to conceive without increasing the risk of recurrence in the short term.

These clinical trials would not have been feasible in a single hospital or even a single country. The BIG network enables researchers to share their discoveries and avoid wasting time and resources. It also enables the recruitment of a larger number of patients with the same type of breast cancer, even for the rarest forms. Over 100,000 patients have already participated in BIG studies.

Breast cancer in figures :

- 1 in 8 women and 1 in 800 men are likely to develop breast cancer during their lifetime.

- In Belgium, around 11,000 people are affected by breast cancer every year.

- Worldwide, the disease affects around 2.3 million people every year.

- According to the latest global statistics, around 17% of all cancers in 2022 will affect people under the age of 50. For breast cancer, the figure is around 29%2.

To find out more about BIG: www.bigagainstbreastcancer.org