In the month of awareness and sensitization about Breast Cancer
- The company Establishment Labs in alliance with Coyol Free Zone highlights the importance of the operation that allows the reconstruction of the breast or breasts that have been removed.
October 2024. Breast reconstruction emerges as a hope and a fundamental right for those women who have their breast or breasts removed due to a diagnosis of breast cancer.
However, in developed countries, only 3 out of 10 women (30%) with mastectomy undergo reconstruction as an essential component of rehabilitation. This brings with it various psychological conflicts that influence both their personal development and their quality of life.
In order to raise awareness about the importance of breast reconstruction, both in Costa Rica and the rest of the world, Establishment Labs, located in Coyol Free Zone, promotes equal access for all women who need it. Through the initiative “The Power of Conversation – Purple Power” seeks to educate about the prevention and early detection of the disease, as well as to deepen the doubts and myths about the surgical procedure to reconstruct the breast.
As part of this campaign, Establishment Labs and Coyol Free Zone jointly held two information sessions that involved the analysis of topics related to breast cancer, symptoms, causes, risk factors, prevention measures, as well as the importance of breast reconstruction, a procedure that helps women change their lives and regain their self-confidence
“A crucial part of the recovery process is breast reconstruction, a fundamental right that all women cancer survivors should be aware of and can request. This procedure not only provides physical benefits, but also emotional ones, helping patients to recover their self-esteem and improve their quality of life after a mastectomy. It is an essential component of a comprehensive recovery,” explained Daniela Vargas, Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon.
The event, held at the Sulàyöm Innovation Campus located in Coyol Free Zone, a leading park in the Life Sciences and Smart Manufacturing industry, was attended by employees of the Park’s companies, who participated in the talks, as well as in the raffle of mammograms and breast ultrasounds donated by Establishment Labs and Coyol Free Zone.
Carlos Wong, Managing Director of CODE Development Group, co-developer of Coyol Free Zone, reiterated that, as leaders in the export of medical devices, they firmly believe in the importance of raising awareness among the domestic population about health care, and promoting habits that improve their quality of life and that of their families.
Currently, Coyol Free Zone provides more than 24,000 direct quality jobs and more than 3,000 indirect jobs, which is why this type of initiative seeks to generate awareness with a multiplying effect. “Awareness and information can save lives. These informative talks bring better knowledge about cancer, risk factors, prevention and available treatments; the message can be carried to others whether family, friends or acquaintances,” Wong said.
Prevalence of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a disease that affects millions of women every year around the world. In Costa Rica, according to data from the Ministry of Health, it represents the second leading cause of death, second only to cardiovascular diseases.
Data from the National Tumor Registry indicate that 1,337 new cases of Breast Cancer were registered in 2022, representing 55 per 100,000 women, while one in 20 will be diagnosed with the disease in the future.
Worldwide, it is estimated that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives and 500,000 lose their battle with breast cancer each year.
About Coyol Free Zone
Coyol Free Zone is the leading medical device export park in Costa Rica, with exports of over US$2 billion per year, which is equivalent to 30% of the exports of the manufacturing segment of the Free Zone Regime of the country.
Coyol Free Zone was named the Best Free Zone in the Americas for the fourth consecutive year, and recognized in the Top 10 Free Zones in the World, as well as the Most Sustainable Free Zone in the Americas by fDI Intelligence in 2024.
In addition, it is the Best Free Trade Zone in Latin America and the Caribbean for the fourth consecutive year, the Most Innovative Free Trade Zone of the Year and the Best Business Center for Life Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing, according to The European magazine.