title: Breast cancer in Brazil: epidemiology and treatment challenges.
abstract: Notwithstanding the advances in tumor research, diagnosis, and treatment, breast cancer is still a challenge worldwide. This global burden of disease has been associated with population aging and the persistence of cancer-related behaviors. The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has been estimated as increasing, especially in middle-income countries such as Brazil. Estimates from the Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) point to breast cancer as the major malignant neoplasia in Brazilian women and the main cause of death from cancer in the country. This fact has been associated with increased life expectancy, urbanization, and cancer-related behaviors. Given this scenario, it is clear that there is a need for identifying and discussing which factors have substantially contributed to this growing number of cases in Brazil, including access to treatment, prevention and early diagnosis, weaknesses of the local health policy, and intrinsic genetic peculiarities of the Brazilian population. This review aims to address the role of such factors.
authors: Laboratory of Inflammatory Mediators, State University o West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Campus Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Adma Poliana
authors: AP
authors: Cecilio
authors: Laboratory of Inflammatory Mediators, State University o West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Campus Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Erika Tomie
authors: ET
authors: Takakura
authors: Laboratory of Inflammatory Mediators, State University o West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Campus Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Jaqueline Janaina
authors: JJ
authors: Jumes
authors: Laboratory of Inflammatory Mediators, State University o West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Campus Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Jeane Wilhelm
authors: JW
authors: Dos Santos
authors: Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC), Campus Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Ana Cristina
authors: AC
authors: Herrera
authors: School of Medicine, Sao Paulo University (FM-USP), Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Vanessa Jacob
authors: VJ
authors: Victorino
authors: Laboratory of Inflammatory Mediators, State University o West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Campus Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Panis
keywords: Brazil; breast cancer; cancer screening; epidemiology; health policies; mammograms; prevention; treatment