title: Breast cancer policy in Latin America: account of achievements and challenges in five countries.
abstract: The recent increase of breast cancer mortality has put on alert to most countries in the region. However it has taken some time before breast cancer could be considered as a relevant problem. Only in recent years breast cancer has been considered a priority in some Latin American countries and resources have been mobilized to confront the problem at the institutional level. The article analyzes the efforts made in five Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela) in the last 15 years to design and implement policies to address the growing incidence of breast cancer.
  
  
  
  Data was collected between July and December 2010 from both primary and secondary sources. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants from governmental and non-governmental organizations. Secondary data was obtained from publications in journals, government reports and official statistics in each country. Analysis combines information from both types of sources.
  
  
  
  Countries have followed different paths and are in different stages of policy implementation. In all cases early detection is a key strategy. Through the design of programs and guidelines, the allocation of financial resources to treat patients, as well as a formally structured information system, Brazil and Mexico have been able to set up comprehensive national policies. Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela have made important advancements but not yet capable of coordinating comprehensive national policies.
  
  
  
  Breast cancer is being considered a priority in all five countries but there are different stages in the rolling out of comprehensive national policies due to differences in their capacity to allocate resources, implement operational strategies and encourage the participation of relevant stakeholders.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Morelos State Autonomous University, Calle Leñeros esquina Iztaccíhuatl s/n Col. Volcanes, Cuernavaca, Morelos, CP 62350, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nigenda
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Santa María A, Cuernavaca, Morelos, CP 62100, Mexico. cecilia.gonzalez@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Robledo
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Morelos State Autonomous University, Calle Leñeros esquina Iztaccíhuatl s/n Col. Volcanes, Cuernavaca, Morelos, CP 62350, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luz Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Robledo
authors.affiliation: Health Science and Medicine School, Valley of Mexico University, Calzada de Tlalpan No. 3016 y 3058 Ex Hacienda Coapa, CP 04910, Coyoac, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bejarano-Arias
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D001938:Brazil; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003105:Colombia; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011050:Policy Making; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014687:Venezuela
keywords: Breast cancer; México; Public policy