Cost-Effectiveness of National Breast Cancer Screening Programs in Developing Countries, with Reference to the Recent Egyptian Initiative

Abstract

Breast cancer was the second most common cancer in the world and the most common cancer in women both in developed and less developed world. It ranked the fifth cause of death from all cancers and caused the greatest number of cancer related deaths among women in 2018. A variety of factors have been shown to impact an individual's risk of developing breast cancer and its ultimate prognosis. Screening for breast cancer will help to reduce mortality, to confer lifetime protection, and to protect those with high risk factors. Cost-effectiveness analysis refers to the economic evaluation in which the costs and consequences of alternative interventions are expressed in cost per unit of health outcome. Studies on costeffectiveness of screening programs in developing countries used different methods and calculated different outcome measures. They studied different tools used for screening. Some studied the costeffectiveness of clinical breast examination and others studied that of mammography. The outcome measures varied, some studies calculated the cost-effectiveness ratio, while others calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, the disability adjusted life years and the quality adjusted life years. It is concluded that although population-based mammography has been widely adopted in high-income countries, it is less cost-effective in low-and middle-income countries which face some challenges such as the problem of investment in screenings. In developing countries, further research to study the cost-effectiveness of breast cancer screening, covering a comprehensive set of interventions and resulting in clear policy recommendations, is required.

DNA Integrity Index as a Molecular Marker for Prediction of Tumor Burden in Breast Cancer

“…In the meantime, there was no discernible difference with regard to Alu115 (p=0.497). Table (3) and diagram (2).…”

“…Its burden has been rising in many countries and in 2040, more than three million new cases and one million deaths were expected (1) . In Egypt, BC accounts for 35.1% of cases among females and reports stated that it carries bad prognosis with 29% mortality rate (2) . Many studies have found increased concentrations of cfDNA and its integrity in various types of malignancy including BC (3,4) .…”

Unique situation of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt: A review of epidemiology and control measures

“…This is why it is important to highlight the importance of screening for HCC for all individuals with SVR for cirrhotic features for life. Increasing public awareness of the importance of the screening is warranted just as in the national screening campaign for breast cancer in Egypt 2020[ 178 ].…”

“…Major screening programs in Egypt, like the National Initiative of 100 Million Healthy Individuals and Breast Cancer 2020 have produced high success rates[ 178 ]. Now it is time for proper guidance and screening programs for HCC in Egypt.…”

Women's Perception Regarding the Ministry of Health Initiatives Plan for Early Detection of Breast Cancer

“…Breast cancer initiative; a global campaign to reduce disparities in breast cancer outcomes and improve access to breast health care for 2.5 million women by 2025 (UICC global cancer control 2020). The launching of the first Egyptian national screening program "Women Health Outreach Program" (WHOP) was announced on October 30th 2007 (Wahdan, 2020).…”