The Pink Ribbon: Shades for every story

The pink ribbon has widely become synonymous with breast cancer.

Pink in colour and a recognised symbol of hope, the ribbon represents the millions of people around the world who have been affected by this disease and its many types.

With over 2.3 million cases reported in 2020, breast cancer became the most diagnosed cancer worldwide. The diversity of this disease, however, continues to be underappreciated.

At Roche, we believe that a single shade of pink is not representative of the many stories and distinct journeys of people affected by this disease. Each person has a unique story and deserves her own shade of pink to reflect it.

We wish to highlight the vast diversity of backgrounds and unparalleled experiences endured by people affected by breast cancer all around the world. 

We wish to amplify every person’s voice.

We wish to make it known that breast cancer is not a one-size-fits-all disease.

Therefore, each person deserves the best approach to diagnosis possible, leading to  a tailored and personalised treatment plan that reflects their own personal journey with breast cancer, no matter the type or stage of this disease.

We are sharing the many unique stories of people affected by breast cancer, represented by ribbons of different shades of pink.

A full time working mother of three young girls, who has traveled the world, Belinda is resilient and appreciates every day to the fullest. After being diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, Belinda prioritizes her own physical and mental health, believing you only have one chance to live your life to the fullest.

A true believer of taking control of your life, Christine is the driver of her own story, and puts cancer in the back seat. After being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, Christine lives life to the fullest each and every day.

Daring, Reflective and Driven are three words to describe Ngozi, who was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer and is a committed advocate of the breast cancer community.

It's never too late to learn something new, having recently started a beginners course in astronomy and completing a Masters in bioinformatics and biostatistics Maria Jose has overcome her own personal challenges after being diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, now making a committed effort to take care of herself physically, mentally and spiritually.

For more than a year after her diagnosis of triple positive breast cancer, Mei found it difficult to find the things she once loved enjoyable. With the support of a patient group, she now has a network of powerful women who support each other each and every day, including frequent trips dragon boat paddling together.

There's nothing more powerful than the bond between a mother and her daughter. Following her diagnosis with HER2-negative breast cancer, Renata's bond with her daughter and a support network helped her process her new normal and begin to get back to loving the things she once appreciated most.

The mother of two teenage daughters, a travel enthusiast and avid reader, Soumya has a newfound confidence in herself after being diagnosed with right breast ductal carcinoma, taking on any challenges life may throw her way.

An Army wife and inquisitive mind who has taken on new challenges in her professional life, Renuka is a strong believer in living life to the fullest, enjoying every moment and her new 'lease on life' since her diagnosis of ductile carcinoma in situ.

A mother to four boys and a former oncology nurse, Rabab is a motivated and strong woman who has overcome challenges since her diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer and paget's disease of the breast, committed to continuing to explore new things  each and every day.

With a 'do it now' attitude to life, Goranka is an adventurer at heart, having hiked from France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Since her diagnosis of C-50 HER2-negative breast cancer, Goranka finds strength in the support from her family, including her son and husband (and childhood sweetheart).

A wife and mother of 4, Ijeoma found uncommon strength following her diagnosis with invasive ductal carcinoma through faith, close family support and a strong desire for life. Ijeoma is blessed with strong entrepreneurial qualities that has made her excel in owning, managing and growing her business in spite of these challenges. She continues to travel, learn and find adventures in everyday life.

She's fondly called Ijay by her friends and family.

Manuela was only 10 years old when she was told her mother was diagnosed with HR-positive breast cancer. Since then, she’s had to learn a great deal about what this has meant for her mother, but also herself, as she’s been a guiding star of encouragement for her and her family.

With a true passion for music leading a rio samba percussion group for almost 15 years, Clarissa found that her love of music helped her through her journey, after being diagnosed with HER2-negative breast cancer.

A mother of two, Alejandra has been in remission for 15 years after being diagnosed with HR-positive breast cancer, and has dedicated her time to her family and helping to improve living conditions and access to opportunities for women in Colombia.

Changing the way we think about breast cancer

We created three individual shades of pink to represent the different types of breast cancer.

References

  1. The Cancer Atlas [Online]. Available from:[Accessed September 2021].

  2. Breast Cancer Research Foundation [Online]. Available from:[Accessed September 2021].

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