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Four women are diagnosed with breast cancer every minute in the world and one ends up dying from the disease, estimates a study published today in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.

Research into global patterns and trends in breast cancer incidence and mortality across 185 countries indicates that one in 20 women worldwide is diagnosed with this type of cancer and that one in 70 is likely to die from the disease. Led by Miranda Fidler-Benaoudia, a researcher at Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research (CEPR) in Alberta, Canada, the study found that, globally, there were 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths from female breast cancer in 2022. According to the findings, mortality rates have declined in 29 countries with a very high human development index (HDI), but only seven countries – Malta, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Slovenia – are meeting the Global Breast Cancer Initiative target of at least a 2.5% reduction per year. If current rates continue, "by 2050, new cases and deaths will have increased by 38% and 68%, respectively, disproportionately impacting countries with low HDI", corresponding to an estimated 3.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths, the study also warns about the type of cancer most diagnosed among women. Global rates vary, however, between countries and continents, with the possibility of a diagnosis over the lifetime being highest in France (one in nine) and North America (one in ten), while the risk of dying from breast cancer over the lifetime is highest in Fiji (one in 24) and Africa (one in 47). "Emerging trends in breast cancer also raise awareness of a growing incidence at younger ages and draw attention to successes in reducing mortality, but only in the most developed countries", says the study. Robust health systems that “facilitate access to early diagnosis and high-quality treatment mean that prognosis is generally good and five-year survival can reach over 90%,” the research also states, warning that, in countries with a low and medium HDI, breast cancer incidence rates remain relatively low, but are accompanied by high mortality. According to the study, this is due to delays in diagnosis and low rates of treatment initiation, which are attributed to systemic, economic and social factors. Given this, the authors advocate urgent action, particularly in countries with lower scores on the HDI, a metric used to measure a country’s overall quality of life, considering factors such as life expectancy, education levels and standard of living. According to the latest data from the National Program for Oncological Diseases of the Directorate-General for Health, in Portugal breast cancer screening is implemented in all regions, with a geographical coverage of 100% of the Functional Units of mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.

According to the same source, in 2023, the country surpassed the target set by the European Beating Cancer Plan, with 99% of the population invited, with a screening adherence rate of 56% being recorded, for a total of 440,298 women.

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