Give Breast Cancer the 1-2-3 this Boobtober

Comedy Central is proud to announce its partnership with prominent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Project Flamingo and PinkDrive, to launch the captivating breast cancer awareness initiative, "Boobtober - Body Slam."

This campaign aims to empower communities and women in the fight against breast cancer by encouraging proactive health measures, this October.

“At Comedy Central we like to tackle serious issues with a humourous twist to make them memorable. "Boobtober - Body Slam" is more than just a campaign; it's a movement that inspires everyone to check, fight, and support those affected by breast cancer. We say, don't let it sneak up on you! This Boobtober gives cancer the 1-2-3.” says Dillon Khan, Vice President of Comedy Central.

Breast cancer has become the most common cancer worldwide, surpassing lung cancer, with 2.3 million new cases and 658,000 deaths reported globally in 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023).

In South Africa, breast cancer accounts for a significant 22.6% of all cancers in women, as reported by the South African National Cancer Registry in 2016. Although official rates suggest that 1 in every 32 South African women will face a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, it is widely acknowledged that these figures underestimate the actual numbers due to inadequate reporting and data-capturing models.

Noelene Kotschan, CEO and Founder of PinkDrive NPC, expressed her excitement about the partnership, stating; "PinkDrive is incredibly excited to partner with Comedy Central's 'Boobtober - Body Slam' event. Each year in October, PinkDrive explores innovative ways to bring critical awareness to breast cancer, and the message that early detection can prolong a life, and 'Boobtober Body Slam' has hit the spot by using comedy to highlight an issue that is often difficult to discuss."

Kotschan emphasized the importance of breast cancer screening, saying; "The message of proactively addressing early detection of breast cancer with the three simple steps of self-examination is fundamental to our message. We appeal to all women to do their part in the fight against breast cancer by practicing self-screening, going for a clinical breast examination, and going for regular mammograms over the age of 40 years."

Dr. Liana Roodt, Specialist Breast and Endocrine Surgeon & Founder of Project Flamingo, shared her insights on breast cancer, stating; "Breast cancer does not discriminate – while a small percentage have a known genetic link, most breast cancers are what we call 'sporadic', with no single identifiable cause. As we learn more about this disease and other cancers, we come to understand that it may be the end result of many small physiological stressors: poor nutrition, lack of healthy exercise, long periods of stress and unprocessed trauma, exposure to exogenous hormones, and disrupted sleep patterns."

Dr. Roodt continued, "None of us are immune to these factors – it has become part of living in the 21st century. We do, however, have the power to deliberately be more aware of what we ask of our bodies daily and realize that self-care and self-awareness are not a luxury but very necessary in preventing disease. Breast cancer, therefore, teaches a lesson to all of us: to take care of ourselves and those we love by living with more intention and less by default."

Comedy Central's "Boobtober - Body Slam" promises to take breast cancer awareness to a whole new level with four TV spots created by Comedy Central and narrated by soccer commentator Baba Mthetwa, which will air across Comedy Central and other Paramount channels throughout October. These TV spots will deliver a mix of humor, excitement, and a strong message: "Don't let it sneak up on you! This Boobtober give cancer the 1-2-3."

Join us in this electrifying fusion of humor and athleticism as we take on breast cancer together.

For more information, please visit: https://www.projectflamingo.co.za/ and https://pinkdrive.org/.