Breast cancer is among the most common cancer in women in the Americas, where approximately 408,000 women were diagnosed and 92,000 women died from breast cancer in 2012.
Breast cancer can be detected early and treated effectively. Breast health awareness programs can increase women's understanding of their risks and of the signs and symptoms that need prompt medical attention. Organized breast cancer screening programs can detect cancers at earlier stage. Most women diagnosed with early stage disease (I and II) have a good prognosis, with overall 5-year survival rates of 80-90%.
Learn more about breast cancer program planning and the scientific evidence about breast cancer risk factors and early detection strategies in this series of breast cancer knowledge summaries.
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Prevention: Breast Cancer Risk Factors and PreventionLearn more about the preventive approaches to breast cancer control. This summary provides information on prophylactic medications, prophylactic surgery and lifestyle modifications for breast cancer prevention. Information on health professional training and individual risk assessments and counseling is also provided.
Early Detection: Breast Health Awareness and Early Detection StrategiesDetecting breast cancer early improves survival, lowers morbidity and reduces the cost of care. Learn about the major breast cancer early detection strategies in this knowledge summary, including breast cancer education and awareness, and breast self-detection and clinical breast exams (CBE).
This summary focuses on the clinical aspects of the early detection of breast cancer. The topics addressed include signs and symptoms of breast abnormalities, the importance of performing an accurate clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of breast awareness and early diagnosis, the need for appropriate and timely follow-up, diagnostic imaging, and pathology workup for a suspicious finding.
Planning: Improving Access to Breast Cancer CareThere are structural, sociocultural, personal and financial barriers that limit access to effective breast cancer detection, treatment and supportive care. Learn how to improve equitable access to breast cancer care by reducing these barriers to breast health services in this knowledge summary.
Planning:
Planning Comprehensive Breast Cancer Programs
Breast cancer programs can be implemented at all resource levels. Learn about how to develop a successful breast cancer program that offers women the best possible outcomes while effectively using available resources.