Breast Cancer in Resource-Limited Countries

Abstract

As one of the major causes of morbidity, mortality and disease burden, breast cancer continues to receive significant attention. However, this attention is most conspicuous in resource-rich countries. In resource-limited countries, breast cancer has not yet been identified as a priority healthcare issue because infectious disease is still the major threat in these countries. There is also a remarkable diversity in the rate of economic growth, political and social conditions and the current status of the delivery of breast cancer care across the resource-limited countries. In addition, the emerging increase in the incidence rate of breast cancer by up to 5%/year is alarming and requires international attention. Breast cancer is becoming an urgent public health problem in resource-limited countries and requires comprehensive resource-appropriate strategies for breast cancer control and management, regardless of age, ethnicity, religion and nationality. There has been significant improvement in breast healthcare over the past few decades, primarily due to advances in health research by diverse teams of basic scientists, physicians, pharmacists, industry, nurses and social workers. This research has involved inquiries regarding fundamental biological alterations in breast cancer, differences in diagnostic modalities and treatment options in various outcome studies. An increase in public awareness of breast cancer, an interest in women’s health issues, advances in radiological imaging, the development of new chemotherapeutic agents and the availability of molecular genetic tests have brought remarkable opportunities to a new insight in breast cancer. These efforts have resulted in earlier breast cancer detection and better outcomes. However, at a global level, there are some countries in the