Breast cancer screening in Brazil

Preliminary results

Abstract

Breast cancer is diagnosed in advanced stages in countries with limited resources, due to the difficulty in promoting early detection and treatment for all women. Breast cancer screening is a confirmed strategy related to the decrease in breast cancer mortality. There are several barriers related to mammographic screening, either related to health care, education or adherence to mammography, but in our country, the main limiting factor is the public health system. For years, organized breast cancer screening has been performed in the Europe Union. In Brazil there are limited experiences related to breast cancer screening, because there are limited health institutions that control the barriers related to the public health system, where the mammography is offered regularly to a limited population. Two experiences were reviewed, the Porto Alegre Breast Health Intervention Cohort, performed in the city of Porto Alegre (RS) and the Regional Breast Cancer Screening performed in Barretos (SP). Were also discussed the barriers related to the mammography non-adherence, the detection rate, the service flow, the results presented in terms of the changes in clinical stage at diagnosis and the rounds of screening.