Department of Posts issues commemorative stamps on breast cancer awareness

30 October 2026

The Department of Posts issued commemorative postage stamps and a set of picture postcards on breast cancer awareness to mark International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is observed every October. Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and Director General of Postal Services Manisha Sinha released them together. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare supplied the medical content, while the Department of Posts planned the campaign so that its nationwide network carries messages on early detection and preventive care. The release says breast cancer is the commonest cancer among Indian women and accounts for over 30 per cent of new cancer cases in women, with more than 2 lakh new cases recorded in 2024 and an estimated 1 in 29 women at risk. Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, 86.97 crore screenings have been done for oral, breast and cervical cancer, of which 22.90 crore were for breast cancer. About 5.50 lakh people are on treatment, including 1.43 lakh breast cancer patients. More than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs now offer screening for these three cancers along with primary care.