Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública

This is not just a fight against a disease,
but also a struggle for the dignity of women.
Julio Frenk

To speak of breast cancer is to speak of a great public health concern worldwide, which currently represents 16% of all female cancers, being the most common cancer among women.¹

In Mexico, since 1980 the mortality rate from breast cancer has been increasing; surpassing that of cervical cancer deaths in 2006, making it the second leading cause of death in women 30 to 54 years old, and the first of cancer deaths in women in general.²

The change in life expectancy in developing countries, which between 1965 and 2005 increased from 50 to 65 years, has resulted in that women in these countries now reach ages where it is more common to develop breast cancer.
Furthermore, the rapid process of urbanization is associated with changes in reproductive behavior and life styles.³

These changes have resulted in tendencies to postpone the onset of motherhood, have fewer children and being less willingness to breastfeed, which along with overweight and obesity, sedentary lifestyle product and low nutritional value and high energy food intake are factors that unite to increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

According to the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), breast cancer in its early stages causes no signs or symptoms. However, as it grows it can make changes in sensation or appearance of the breasts. Some of the symptoms that may occur include a lump in the breast or under the arm, in the armpit, hardening or swelling of part of the breast, irritation, peeling, redness or dimpling of breast skin or the nipple, change in the size or shape of the breast and pain in either.⁴

For breast cancer, reducing risk factors and early detection play an important role in the control of and reducing mortality from this cause. There are three tools for early detection of breast cancer: self-examination, clinical examination and mammography.

According to the manual for primary medical care and nursing staff, early detection, comprehensive management of breast cancer, and clinical examination have demonstrated certain contributions in reducing mortality from this disease, along with mammography, which is "the most effective tool for early detection of breast cancer." Meanwhile, self-exploration "aims to educate women about breast cancer and promote a greater understanding of your body so you can identify abnormal changes, and seek timely medical care."

For more information about breast cancer, see the following issues of the Journal Public Health of Mexico:

• Vol. 53, no. 5, septiembre-octubre de 2011
• Vol. 51, suplemento 2 de 2009

As well as these documents and links to the INPS Web site:

• Detección temprana y manejo integral del cáncer de mama Manual para personal de medicina y enfermería del primer nivel de atención
• Cáncer de mama: autocuidado, detección y recomendaciones (tríptico)
• Cáncer en México (cartel)

References:

¹ OPS, "Today is commemorated as the International Day to Fight Breast Cancer" http://new.paho.org/par/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=582&Itemid=212

² Dra. Gabriela Torres, Dr. Angelica Angeles, Dr. Eduardo Lazcano, Editorial. Breast cancer prevention culture population and professionalization of its detection and control. Public Health of Mexico Vol 53, no. 5, September-October 2011

³ Julio Frenk, Editorial. Awareness, early detection and fighting prejudice. Key in the fight against breast cancer. Public Health of Mexico Vol 51, Supplement 2, 2009.

⁴ CDC, "October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month " http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/especialesCDC/CancerMama/