Cancer Screening in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2024 Jun;44(3):e431272. doi: 10.1200/EDBK_431272.

Abstract

The worldwide cancer burden is growing, and populations residing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing a disproportionate extent of this growth. Breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers are among the top 10 most frequently diagnosed malignancies, and they also account for a substantial degree of cancer mortality internationally. Effective screening strategies are available for all three of these cancers. Individuals from LMICs face substantial cost and access barriers to early detection programs, and late stage at diagnosis continues to be a major cause for cancer mortality in these communities. This chapter will review the epidemiology of breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers, and will explore prospects for improving global control through novel approaches to screening in cost-constrained environments.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Developing Countries*
  • Early Detection of Cancer* / economics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening / economics
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / epidemiology