It's Pinktober, the month to wear pink for awareness of breast cancer, the most common form of cancer impacting women in Samoa. In 2023, 34 per cent of cancer cases in women were of breast cancer.

Local bank ANZ Samoa showed support for this year’s Samoa Cancer Society’s Pinktober by having a breakfast launch event on Tuesday and committed $10,000 towards cancer awareness and helping those suffering.

Minister of Health Valasi Tafito Selesele said Samoa was committed to addressing the burden of breast cancer and addressing all cancers in Samoa and has completed the first Cancer Control Policy and Plan for Samoa.

"Considerable consultation and research went into drafting this document, which highlights that one of the main issues with cancer in Samoa is late presentation," he said.

"This results in people being diagnosed with advanced cancers, which are difficult or impossible to treat. Some of the crucial reasons why patients do not seek help earlier are cultural, logistics, financial, knowledge, and navigating the health systems and processes in Samoa."

ANZ Samoa Country Head Sucharu Tandon said it was a special event in both ANZ’s and the Samoa Cancer Society’s calendar.

“This is my second time hosting this event, but ANZ has been involved in this event for more than a decade. Since 2012 we have formed a close partnership with the Cancer Society, and I am proud to carry on this tradition. It is one of the many ways we support the communities we operate in,” Mr Tandon said.

ANZ Samoa announced a donation of $10,000 to the Samoa Cancer Society. This is in addition to the total donations by ANZ of more than $60,000 over the last 12 years. This is through a mix of corporate and staff donations, community fundraising, helping to fund things like patient support visits, awareness campaigns that is vital to the work of the Samoa Cancer Society.

Mr Tandon said while Pinktober is focused on breast cancer, it helps put a spotlight on other cancers and the importance of early detection and other preventative measures.

“These things are not nice to talk about but the messages around exposure, early detection and treatment are vital," he said.

“The sad reality is that all of us will know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer – either directly or indirectly: a family member, a friend, a neighbour, a colleague, someone from the local church.

“That’s why it is so important we keep this conversation alive and not think about it once a year. Our way of doing that is wearing our pink shirt every week so the conversation remains top of mind.” 

Meanwhile, Valasi encouraged everyone to wear pink during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to demonstrate Samoa’s unity in support of Pinktober and raise awareness of breast cancer in Samoa and globally.