Cecile Pizot on Breast Cancer Mortality in Latin America and Asia

Cecile Pizot, biostatistician in Epidemiology at the International Prevention Research Institute, discusses the changes in mortality rates in breast cancer worldwide. In a study on 47 countries, 39 observed a decline in breast cancer mortality rates. However, mortality rates were on the rise in Latin American and Asian countries.

Pizot explains that early detection and regular screenings in comparable countries such as England and Wales attribute to the drop in breast cancer, while countries in Latin America and Asia have less access to these technologies due to socioeconomic circumstances. Also, Pizot says, the population of women in Latin America is older on average, making treatment options limited due to other comorbidities.

To overcome this increase, Pizot suggests that improvements in genesis at an early stage will help but, more importantly, providing international access to screenings and treatment in underdeveloped countries must be funded.