Introduction: Cancers together rank among the major public health challenges globally, as do individual cancers, such as breast and uterine. Challenges are even greater in less developed countries, and especially in their small and medium-sized municipalities, in part due to the typical insufficiency of data and clinical resources.
Methodology: We explored Municipal, State, and National databases regarding breast and uterine cancers in the municipality of Formiga, in the landlocked state of Minas Gerais in western Brazil. Additionally, we interviewed physicians in Formiga about their perception of the incidence and mortality of these cancers, and the adequacy of current and planned institutional responses locally and beyond to mitigate their societal costs.
Results: Incidence and mortality were found to be average or slightly below average compared with the State and Nation. Interviewed physicians expressed greater concern about breast than uterine cancers. Local public health efforts specifically address these cancers, via short-term measures including increased availability of diagnostic exams, and long-term measures including education of the population and of clinical professionals.
Conclusion: Further research should address the effectiveness of the public health measures at reducing locally the societal costs of breast and uterine cancers to patients, to insurers, and to the Municipality.
Silva, Heslley Machado; Flávia Rocha de Araújo Adamy; and Robert A. Michaels. Breast and uterine cancer in Formiga City, Minas Gerais, Brazil: government data, interviews with local physicians, and mitigation. Revista Portuguesa de Ciências e Saúde, 3(2):31-44, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366824256_Breast_and_Uterine_Cancer_in_Formiga_City_Minas_Gerais_Brazil_Government_Data_Interviews_with_Local_Physicians_and_Mitigation, December 2022;