Every six hours, a woman in Switzerland dies from breast cancer – PINK CUBE is back on its prevention roadshow
02.09.2025 09:57 CEST
Lucerne, September 2, 2025 – The striking pink container, PINK CUBE, is once again touring Switzerland from September 6 to October 25, bringing breast cancer awareness directly to the public. This initiative, launched by the pharmaceutical company MSD in 2022 and continuously supported as the main sponsor, aims to provide all women with equal opportunities for early detection, ultimately saving lives. At twelve locations, medical teams will offer free consultations and breast examinations. The official launch of the roadshow will take place on September 6 with an exclusive kick-off and networking event at the PINK CUBE in Zurich.
Early detection of breast cancer can save lives
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Switzerland – approximately 6,600 women and around 60 men are diagnosed with it each year. Every six hours, a woman dies from breast cancer. The key to successful treatment lies in timely diagnosis: the earlier the disease is detected, the better the chances of recovery and the less invasive the treatments. Mammography is the most important examination for early detection, as it can reveal changes in breast tissue before a tumor becomes palpable or causes symptoms.
Unequal opportunities in Switzerland
ccess to early detection is not equally guaranteed across Switzerland. While some cantons have already implemented systematic, franchise-exempt mammography screening programs, many others lack such offerings. This inequality means that where you live can determine your chances of timely detection—and, ultimately, life or death.
What is the PINK CUBE?
The PINK CUBE is a striking pink container that serves as a mobile education and consultation station. This unique initiative brings together medical expertise, patient organizations, policymakers, and businesses with a clear goal: to raise awareness, provide information, break down barriers, and drive tangible changes for universal access to breast cancer early detection. At each location, experts from cantonal hospitals and breast centers offer free consultations and breast examinations. The initiative is under the patronage of EUROPA DONNA Switzerland and the Swiss Cancer League.
The PINK CUBE Roadshow 2025 Stops
This year’s tour will take the PINK CUBE to twelve locations across Switzerland:
- 06.09. Zurich, Utoplatz/Sihlcity – University Hospital Zurich
- 12.09. Stans, Dorfplatz – Lucerne Cantonal Hospital, Nidwalden Hospital
- 13.09. Lucerne, Mühlenplatz – Lucerne Cantonal Hospital
- 18.09. Sarnen, Dorfplatz – Obwalden Cantonal Hospital
- 20.09. Schwyz, Mythen Center – Schwyz Hospital
- 25.09. Schaffhausen, Fronwagplatz – Schaffhausen Hospitals
- 27.09. Zug, Bundesplatz – Aarau Cham Zug Breast Center
- 02.10. Altdorf, Lehnplatz – Uri Cantonal Hospital
- 04.10. Zurich, Europaplatz – Zurich Breast Center
- 11.10. Glarus, Rathausplatz – Glarus Cantonal Hospital
- 16.10. Liestal, Rathausstrasse – Baselland Cantonal Hospital
- 25.10. Baden, Schlossbergplatz – Aarau Cham Zug Breast Center
Visits and consultations at the PINK CUBE are free of charge and do not require prior registration. The roadshow specifically targets cantons that currently lack systematic early detection programs, aiming to provide all women aged 50 and above with access to high-quality early detection examinations—regardless of their place of residence, financial situation, or social background.
MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme in Switzerland
In Switzerland, MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme employs over 1,000 people at five sites in the cantons of Lucerne and Zurich. At the site in Zurich, in “The Circle”, MSD operates a global innovation and development hub. The main therapeutic areas of MSD are oncology, infectious diseases, and cardiometabolic diseases. We also have a broad portfolio of vaccines for the prevention of diseases in children, adolescents, and adults. At our site in Schachen, we manufacture medicines for global clinical trials and operate a forensic laboratory. In addition, MSD conducts almost 50 clinical trials annually in Switzerland alone. We take our responsibility to the local community seriously and have been involved for years in, among other things, the «Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern» and the «Alliance Health competence». In 2025, MSD received the «Top Employer Switzerland» award for the thirteenth time in a row.
For more information, please visit www.msd.ch, de.msd-animal-health.ch, www.msd-gesundheit.ch and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook und YouTube.
MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG, Werftestrasse 4, 6005 Lucerne. Switzerland.
Copyright © 2025 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
CH-NON-03092, 08/2025