Breast Friends

The “Breast Friends” campaign returns to MAR Shopping Algarve in October 2025 for its 5th edition, reaffirming our commitment to health, prevention, and community well-being.

Part of the international Pink October movement, this initiative is organised in partnership with the
Algarve Oncology Association (AOA) and the Hospital Particular do Algarve (HPA).

Our goal?
👉 To raise awareness about the importance of early breast cancer detection, through practical, accessible actions with real social impact.

💗 What’s happening in 2025

• 👩‍⚕️ Breast self-exam demonstrations - October 26th | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  Conducted by AOA professionals using educational prostheses.

• 🩺 Free breast ultrasounds
  Performed at the HPA Clinic at MAR Shopping Algarve, by appointment.

📅 21–25 October 2025
📍 HPA Clinic — MAR Shopping Algarve

📊 Our impact so far

Since 2021, the project has:

• Provided over 153 free screenings;

• Reached vulnerable communities, including migrants, residents in remote areas, and institutionalised individuals;

• Identified 2 cases with altered results in 2024, enabling timely medical follow-up.

🌍 A commitment to well-being

By hosting the Breast Friends campaign, MAR Shopping Algarve reinforces its mission as a Meeting Place with real impact, aligned with the AMAR philosophy that guides our social responsibility strategy in Portugal:

🤝 Solidarity — ensuring free access to preventive healthcare;

💬 Social inclusion — reaching diverse and often overlooked audiences;

🌱 Human sustainability — fostering a healthier and more conscious future.

Breast Friends 2025 is also part of the MAR Shopping Health Screening Agenda, which offers regular awareness and prevention initiatives throughout the year, in partnership with leading health institutions.

💬 Because caring is an act of courage. And prevention is a gesture of love.

🩻 How to participate in the free screenings

✅ Eligibility criteria

Participants must:

• Be 40 years or older (by 1 October 2025);

• Or 35 years or older with a first-degree family history (mother or sister with breast cancer);

• Be asymptomatic (no current symptoms);

• Accept and sign the campaign’s informed consent forms;

• Not have an active or previous breast cancer diagnosis or treatment;

• Not have undergone a mammogram in the past year;

• Not have had breast surgery (augmentation, reduction, or lift) in the past 3 months;

• Not be undergoing thoracic radiotherapy;

• Not present breast trauma, burns, or wounds.

🗓️ How it works

• 📅 Dates: 21–25 October 2025

• 📍 Location: HPA Clinic — MAR Shopping Algarve

• 📞 Pre-booking required

  • Phone: 302 063 457

  • Email: [email protected]

• Appointments available between 20 and 24 October 2025