COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY OF BREAST CANCER IN EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN IN 2012

To compare the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Europe and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2012

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY OF BREAST CANCER IN EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN IN 2012

Paula O. C. Queiroz¹, Larissa S. Valadares¹, Pedro R. Soares¹, Luisa R. Barros¹

¹ Federal University of Goiás

Objective: To compare the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Europe and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2012. Methodology: An ecological analytical study carried out by the interpretation of the data available on the GLOBOCAN platform, concerning the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Europe and in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2012. Results: In Latin America and the Caribbean, the incidence of breast cancer, in absolute numbers, is 152,059, while the mortality rate is 43,208. In Europe, the incidence is higher, 458,718, with a mortality of 131,347. Incidence and mortality rates are higher in Europe than in Latin America and the Caribbean: the incidence rate in the former is 119.5 / 100. 000 inhabitants and in the second it is 49.8 / 100.000 inhabitants, while the mortality rate in the former is 34.2 / 100,000 inhabitants, while in the latter it is only 14.1 / 100,000 inhabitants. If, on the other hand, we compare the incidence / mortality in women, by age group, in both regions, we can conclude that these data are always higher in the group aged 40 years or older. In Europe, the incidence of breast cancer in women aged 40 years or older is 94.55%, while mortality in the same group represents 97.8% of the total. On the other hand, the incidence of breast cancer in Latin American and Caribbean women aged 40 years or older is 89.4%, while mortality in this age group corresponds to 92.9% of the total. Conclusion: Breast cancer accounts for 25 percent of all breast cancer cases in the world and is also the leading cause of cancer-related death in this population, according to the WHO. In Latin America, it is the second leading cause of death among women. Although developed regions have higher incidence rates, an overall increase in the incidence of breast cancer is seen each year as a result of encouraging screening and early diagnosis, two strategies that seek to reduce the mortality rates of the disease. However, less developed countries have lower survival rates due to late diagnosis, as well as lack of adequate diagnosis and treatment. Thus, despite the highest incidence rates in developed countries, almost 50% of all cases are in less developed countries, which account for about 58% of deaths (GLOBOCAN 2008). Keywords: mortality, incidence, breast cancer.