Breast Cancer On The
Rise
According to the
vice-minister de Salud
(Health), Lidieth
Carballo Quesada, 284
women died in the first
ten months of 2007 due
to breast cancer and
since 1995 the numbers
of have been steadily
growing.
Carballo said that the
growth in numbers since
1995 have been worrisome
for Salud officials and
she hopes that the Plan
Nacional contra el
Cáncer (national plan
against cancer) that was
put into place last year
will help reduce the
number of deaths.
Carballo added that the
type of cancers
affecting the population
is breast cancer in
women and prostrate
cancer in men.
Cancer is the number two
cause of deaths in Costa
Rica.
The vice-minister said
that the United States
government is supporting
Costa Rica's initiatives
to prevent breast cancer
and that the Costa Rican
government is committed
to strenghtening the Red
Oncológica Nacional
(national oncology
network).
Carballo said that
medical centres are
receiving equipment and
training and the health
ministry will send staff
to hospitals were most
needed and that staff is
being trained in cancer
treatment in and outside
of Costa Rica.
Health officials say
that some 834 new cases
of breast cancer are
expected to diagnoses
this year and could
reach as many as 1.068
per year by 2016. |
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