Cancer Prevention: A Personal and National Priority

October is a month that reminds us all of the importance of awareness, reflection, and action when it comes to cancer. Across the world, pink ribbons appear as a symbol of hope and resilience, but also as a call to action: we cannot afford to look away from one of the leading causes of death in Mexico.

For me, this message became especially clear recently. I had the opportunity to attend Dinner in Pink 2025, an event that combined food, art, and solidarity to raise funds for women battling breast cancer. Seeing communities and organizations unite around this cause brought back personal memories of my own family’s journey. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and her story taught me that prevention and early detection are not abstract ideas, they are the difference between fear and hope, between loss and more years together.

That lived experience is why I believe cancer prevention should be both a personal habit and a national priority.

The Silent Burden of Cancer in Mexico

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in our country. According to INEGI, it accounts for nearly 90,000 deaths each year, with breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancers being the most prevalent. Beyond the devastating personal impact, the economic burden is immense: cancer treatment represents billions of pesos in healthcare costs annually, straining both families and public systems.

What makes this even more tragic is that many of these cancers are preventable or treatable if detected early. The World Health Organization estimates that over 40% of cancer cases could be avoided through lifestyle changes and preventive care. Yet, in Mexico, late detection is common. For example, more than 60% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in advanced stages, significantly reducing survival rates.

This is not just a public health problem, it is also a social and economic one. Every late-stage cancer case is a family disrupted, a career cut short, a child deprived of a parent, or a company losing valuable talent.

Why Prevention Matters More Than Cure

In business, we often speak about efficiency, productivity, and return on investment. Prevention in healthcare is, in many ways, the ultimate ROI. The cost of a mammogram, Pap smear, or prostate antigen test is negligible compared to the cost of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and prolonged hospitalizations, not to mention the immeasurable human suffering involved.

Yet, in our culture, prevention does not always occupy the place it deserves. Many people still avoid routine check-ups, either due to lack of access, lack of time, fear of bad news, or simply the belief that “it won’t happen to me.” Changing this mindset is as critical as improving infrastructure. Prevention requires not just medical systems, but also cultural transformation.

Companies have a role to play here. Employers who offer preventive health programs not only care for their people, they also strengthen productivity and loyalty. A workforce that is healthier is also more resilient, more engaged, and more capable of driving growth.

The Role of Technology and Access

The good news is that Mexico is not starting from zero. Over the past decade, awareness around cancer has grown. Campaigns during October have mobilized civil society, foundations, and companies. But awareness alone is not enough, we need to close the gap between knowing and acting.

Technology can help bridge that gap. Digital health platforms, such as Doctoralia, have already shown they can connect millions of patients with doctors every year. That consistency of appointments is not just a statistic, it is millions of opportunities for prevention. Every consultation is a chance for a doctor to recommend a screening, educate a patient, or detect a red flag early.

At the same time, access remains a critical issue. For prevention to be truly effective, screenings and follow-ups must be affordable and available across all regions, not just in urban centers. Public-private collaboration is essential. If prevention is to become a national priority, it must also be a shared responsibility.

From Individuals to Institutions: Who Must Act?

Families: Prevention begins at home. Parents must model the habit of regular check-ups and talk openly about health with their children. Early education builds lifelong habits.
 

Companies: Employers should invest in preventive health programs, wellness initiatives, and easy access to screenings. It is not just a benefit, it is good business.
 

Healthcare professionals: Doctors are on the frontlines. Every consultation is a chance to emphasize prevention, and every patient encounter is an opportunity to encourage screenings.

Government: Policy must prioritize preventive medicine, from funding screening programs to expanding coverage in rural areas. Investing in prevention today will save lives, and billions of pesos, tomorrow.

The Road Ahead: Building a Culture of Prevention

For prevention to become a true cultural norm in Mexico, we need more than campaigns once a year. We need ongoing education, accessible services, and leaders across sectors committed to making prevention part of our DNA as a society.

Imagine a Mexico where preventive health check-ups are as routine as renewing your driver’s license, where companies celebrate employees who take care of their health, and where families talk about mammograms and prostate exams as naturally as they talk about school grades or career milestones. That is the kind of cultural shift that saves lives.

Closing: Why It’s Personal, and Why It’s National

For me, cancer prevention will always be personal. My mother’s survival is a constant reminder that early detection makes all the difference. But it is also national, because every Mexican deserves the same chance she had: the chance to detect, to treat, and to live.

As leaders, as families, as citizens, we cannot afford to wait. Cancer does not discriminate, but prevention empowers us all. If we place prevention at the center of our health, our policies, and our daily lives, we can turn the tide against one of the greatest challenges of our time.

It is time for Mexico to act, not just in October, but every single day.