Brasília – At the seminar “Towards Zero Avoidable Deaths from Breast Cancer”, held by the Secretariat for Women and the Women’s Rights Committee of the House of Representatives, authorities and specialists expressed concern over the low rate of breast cancer screening and the unequal access to early diagnosis across the country. According to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), only 24% of women aged 50 to 69 underwent mammography in 2024, far below the 70% international benchmark. Coverage varied widely, from just 5% in Roraima to 33% in Espírito Santo.

Experts highlighted that while prevention remains a major gap, some progress is being made. The Ministry of Health (Ministério da Saúde) recently extended eligibility for biennial mammography to women up to 74 years old and has encouraged the implementation of organized screening programs to replace opportunistic testing. They also pointed to advances in treatment, such as the incorporation of new therapies for aggressive subtypes of breast cancer in the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS).

Source: Câmara dos Deputados

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