Government of Pará holds Day D of mammography in regional hospitals and polyclinics
The action takes place on October 29 and reinforces the Pink October campaign with free services for women aged 40 and over
Focusing on the prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer, the Government of the State of Pará, through the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), promotes on the next October 29 the Day D of mammography. The action will be held in all regional hospitals of the State and in the polyclinics of Belém and Tucuruí.
The initiative is part of the activities of the Pink October campaign and marks the State's effort on World Breast Cancer Awareness Day, celebrated on October 19. On this special date, women aged 40 and over will be able to undergo mammography exams even without symptoms, with spontaneous demand service, that is, without the need for prior scheduling.
The action follows the guidelines of the Ministry of Health for breast cancer screening and aims to increase access to early diagnosis of the disease, the main strategy to increase the chances of cure.
Increasing access and strengthening the network
The program will take place in 14 regional hospitals managed by the State Government, in addition to the polyclinics that have mammography machines. The goal is to intensify the offer of exams and reach a larger number of women within the recommended age range for screening.
According to the State Secretary of Public Health, Ivete Vaz, the main message of the campaign is to reinforce the importance of preventive exams.
“The message always prioritizes raising awareness among the female population about the importance of preventive and screening exams for these malignant neoplasms, as the earlier cancer is detected, the greater the chances of cure,” said the manager.
Patrícia Martins, coordinator of Oncological Care at Sespa, also emphasizes the importance of early detection. “To reduce mortality, it is essential that women discover the tumor before having clinical symptoms. The smaller it is, the better for treatment and increases the chance of cure. And we can only do this with imaging exams,” she explained.
Other actions of Pink October
In addition to Day D, other action fronts are underway during the month of October. The Women's Truck has been providing specialized care to various municipalities in the interior, offering consultations with mastologists and gynecologists, performing ultrasounds, mammograms, and, when necessary, direct referrals for biopsies, with guaranteed regulation.
Lectures, discussion groups, and educational actions are also being promoted in municipal health units, focusing on awareness, prevention, and encouraging women's self-care.
Diagnoses and treatment in Pará
Data from Sespa show that breast cancer cases have decreased in recent years: there were 981 records in 2023, 891 in 2024, and, until August 2025, 357 confirmed cases.
Treatment is available through the Unified Health System (SUS) and may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies, according to medical indication.
The state network offers specialized care in the following health units:
- Ophir Loyola Hospital (HOL) – Belém
- João Barros Barreto University Hospital – Belém
- Castanhal Regional Hospital
- Lower Amazon Regional Hospital (HRBA) – Santarém
- Tucuruí Regional Hospital
- South East Pará Regional Hospital “Dr. Geraldo Veloso” – Marabá
Access to treatment begins at the Basic Health Units of the municipalities, where the first care occurs. Suspected or confirmed cases follow the State Oncology Access Protocol and are referred to specialized centers.
