Portrait of public policies in the treatment of breast cancer in Brazil

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Brazilian women and the survival of patients is directly related to early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. A literature review on Brazilian public policies aimed at this disease was performed. The objective of this paper is to discuss the advances and limitations of the Unified Health System (SUS) and to analyze the current situation in which the country finds itself in treating these patients. It was noted that the initiatives taken in the screening and treatment system progressed in recent decades. However, the country still needs more investments to be able to appropriately and completely treat these patients diagnosed with breast cancer.