Breast cancer is among the most common cancer in women in the Americas, where more than 462,000 women were diagnosed and aproximately 100,000 women died from breast cancer every year.
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%.
The challenge is to mount and sustain effective breast cancer awareness and screening programs, with timely access to appropriate treatment and reduced barriers to care, especially in limited resource settings.
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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