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Survival was analyzed in patients with breast cancer who were beneficiaries of the Popular Health Insurance in San Luis Potosí, from 2007-2012. Observational, cross-sectional and retrospective quantitative study included 502 cases of breast cancer. Kaplan-Meier curves, log rank test (Mantel-Cox) and a multivariate model using Cox regression were used. There was greater survival in women with positive estrogen receptor status than in negative ones. Those who were estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor positive, who received a higher dose of radiation therapy, were in a higher decile of socioeconomic status, had a lower risk of dying compared with those who were not; stage IIA had a lower risk of dying than stage IV. Survival is related to: estrogen and progesterone receptor status, cancer stage, educational level, radiotherapy dose, and socioeconomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged delays in breast cancer screening related to the Covid-19 pandemic may lead to delayed diagnoses, poor health consequences, and an increase in cancer disparities among women already experiencing health inequities. There is a void in empirical high-quality evidence to support a specific strategy for administering cancer screening during a pandemic and its resolution phase, but several pragmatic considerations can help guide its recovery and ensure its continuity. One of these strategies is to address the backlogs in the diagnostic and follow-up of breast cancer, designing programs that align with the current epidemiological situation. Here, we present some approaches for the generation of breast cancer detection programs which embody recommendations and obligations to overcome the SARS-CoV-2. With this initiative, we reinforce our commitment to advance health care by ensuring more women have access to preventive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer screening coverage in Mexico is limited. It is necessary to configure the Mexican health system to make it capable of producing more mammograms, without neglecting quality and diagnostic opportunity., Objective: To project the coverage of breast cancer screening programs according to the mammographs availability in the Mexican Health System., Material and Methods: An exploratory study was conducted correlating the number mammographs available in the Mexican Health System with women between 40 and 69 who are the target of screening programs in Mexico. The analysis consisted of calculating the coverage of breast cancer screening programs if each mammograph could perform 6336 screening mammograms per year. All the calculations were made with the information of the year 2020 as the most current data in terms of population density., Results: It was determined that the number of mammographs is enough to raise the offer of screening studies to ≈50% at the national level. There are even states whose coverage capacity is projected above 70%. Some of them are Mexico City, Colima, Durango, Quintana Roo, Zacatecas, Baja California Sur and Coahuila. Also, it was observed that the distribution of mammographs is not equitable in the national territory, suggesting investment both in equipment and in screening strategies for breast cancer., Conclusions: Our data show that it is possible to advance in preventing breast cancer in Mexico, although the improvement of the management capacities of the Mexican Health System is required to improve both the coverage and quality of the breast cancer screening programs., (Licencia CC 4.0 (BY-NC-ND) © 2023 Revista Médica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.)

Background: there are few studies on breast symptoms (BS) in patients attended at primary care units in Mexico. The aim was to determine the frequency and types of BS overall and by age-group and establish which BS were related to diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods: data from all female patients with breast disease related diagnosis, attended from 2006 to 2010, at the Family Medicine Unit 38, were collected. The frequencies of BS were determined by four age-groups (< 19, 20-49, 50-69, > 70 years) and likelihood ratios for breast cancer for each breast related symptom patient, with a 95 % confidence interval (CI). Results: the most frequent BS in the study population were lump/mass (71.7 %) and breast pain (67.7 %) of all breast complaints, and they were more noted in women age group of 20-49 years. Overall, 120 women had breast cancer diagnosed with a median age of 53.51 + 12.7 years. Breast lump/mass had positive likelihood ratios for breast cancer 4.53 (95 % CI = 2.51-8.17) and breast pain had increased negative LR = 1.08 (95 % CI = 1.05-1.11). Conclusions: breast lump/mass was the predominant presenting complaint among females with breast symptoms in our primary care unit, and it was associated with elevated positive likelihood of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer has become an important health risk for women worldwide. The important growth of breast cancer-related deaths within those caused by malign tumors throughout the globe went past the 460 000 in 2008, becoming the deadliest disease worldwide. Demographic changes and lifestyles have modified the population exposure to risk factors of maladies such as cancer, and since 1980 breast cancer mortality has remained on an upward tendency, surpassing cervical cancer in 2006. After analyzing mortality rates along 30 years in Mexican women 25 or more years old, differences by state and age-groups are apparent. Although this cause of death has been associated with a highest regional development, some changes are taking place, since the number of deaths is also growing among women of less-developed regions in the country, as showed in this work. Mexico faces an evident challenge regarding breast cancer . Our country requires to join efforts and implement programs aimed at teaching self-care of health among the population, promoting healthier lifestyles, and reshaping our diagnostic infrastructure to achieve earlier detection and provide proper treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: there are no reliable and valid instruments in Mexico for breast cancer patients. Our objective was to measure reliability and validity of a Spanish version of the FACT-B (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast) questionnaire in Mexican population. Methods: the translation of the questionnaire was reviewed and minor changes were made. The instrument was applied to 142 patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer. It was applied to 105 for the second time, and to 75 for the third time. An analysis of item discrimination was made. The questionnaire's reliability was determined by Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent validity was determined by an analysis of correlations between the instrument's scales and EORTC's QLQ C-30 y BR-23 scales. Results: the five FACT-B subscales were reliable, their alpha coefficients varied between 0.65 and 0.82. The entire scale obtained a value of 0.87. The correlation analysis between FACT-B and EORTC QLQ C-30 subscales indicated that the same construct was being evaluated. Conclusions: FACT-B is a valid, reliable and sensitive instrument to measuring quality life in Mexican breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to discover the primary characteristics of patients who have died of breast cancer (BCa) through the use of verbal autopsies. Methods: it was reviewed 105 death certificates where BCa was registered as the cause of death in a year period. A verbal autopsies instrument was designed for BCa, it was validated through expert consultation. A test-retest and Spearman coefficient were applied. The instrument explored sociodemographic, biological, life-style and health services variables. Data was obtained from patients' relatives. Any patient whose family could not be localized or declined to participate was excluded from the study. Results: eighty one verbal autopsies were applied (77%). The mean age at the time of death was 53 ± 15. There was a direct family history of BCa in 25%; and in 31% there were overweight or obese. Only 17% of the tumors were discovered by health care workers, and the mean survival after diagnosis was 2.3 ± 2 years. Conclusion: the verbal autopsy for BCa is a useful tool. It showed that 83% of the deceased women identified the tumor by themselves. The health services must reinforce programs for BCa early detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of health public politics is not easy and requires a long time to be established and evaluated the most of the times. There are a lot of determiners that influence on results. An example is the rule that is looking for identification of non palpable lesions in breast through the practicing a mammography with the goal of decreasing mortality on a health problem in Mexico and worldwide: breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]