The Economic Case for Women’s Health: Prioritizing Breast Cancer in the Philippines

In the Philippines, women are the backbone of both the professional workforce and the informal "care economy." However, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among Filipino women, often striking during their prime productive years. Notably, the incidence of breast cancer among young women (≤40 years) is higher in the Philippines than in other Asian countries. Positioning breast cancer as a national priority is a vital economic strategy to safeguard human capital and national productivity.