抽象的な

Surveys on breast cancer prevention in a population of uruguayan women

Natalia Camejo

 Breast cancer has the highest incidence and mortality rates in Uruguay. Becoming familiarized with the distribution of risk factors associated to the development of the disease facilitates the implementation of prevention strategies in everyday clinical practice which could eventually contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality rates.

Objectives: Learn about the epidemiological profile for breast cancer and the frequency of mammography controls in the surveyed population.

Materials and methods: Uruguayan women were surveyed. After applying the survey, information regarding risk and protection factors and the importance of carrying out mammography controls was provided.

Results: Out of 182 surveyed women, the median age was 34 (18-75 years old). Excluding the fact of being female (a risk factor present in all surveyed women), 73 surveyed women (48 %) presented one or two more risk factors. The majority of women older than 50 years old (58, 87.8 %) undergo mammography controls at least once every two years.

Discussion: Similar to what was reported by the national breast cancer programme, 40 % of surveyed women have presented a risk factor to develop the disease. The majority of the surveyed women who were older than 50 years old underwent mammography and clinical controls at least once every two years, which shows the impact that prevention campaigns carried out by the honorary commission for the fight against cancer and the policies implemented by the ministry of public health have had on the population