Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy (Dec 2021)
Young Women with Breast Cancer in Resource-Limited Settings: What We Know and What We Need to Do Better
Abstract
Bertha Alejandra Martinez-Cannon,1,2,* Regina Barragan-Carrillo,1,2,* Cynthia Villarreal-Garza2,3 1Hematology-Oncology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, Mexico; 2Joven & Fuerte: Programa para la Atencion e Investigacion de Mujeres Jovenes con Cancer de Mama en Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; 3Breast Cancer Center, Hospital Zambrano Hellion TecSalud, Tecnologico de Monterrey, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bertha Alejandra Martinez-CannonHematology-Oncology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Dominguez Secc 16, Tlalpan, Mexico City, 14080, MexicoTel +52 55 5487 0900Email [email protected]: Young women with breast cancer (YWBC) account for a variable proportion of patients diagnosed with breast cancer around the globe, with a higher prevalence in resource-limited settings than in high-income countries. This group represents a unique population that warrants special attention due to specific biological considerations and age-specific supportive care issues. This review aims to explore existing knowledge regarding YWBC’s needs, particularly in resource-restricted settings. To date, scarce information regarding the care of YWBC in resource-constrained countries is available, with most reports describing suboptimal care in terms of survivorship needs. Health care providers should implement actions to improve endocrine treatment adherence, referrals for fertility counseling and preservation, contraceptive use compliance, timely body image and sexual function interventions, comprehensive genetic risk assessments, and early quality of life and psychosocial health interventions. While high costs act as a barrier for optimal care in resource-limited settings, improving patient education represents a promising and cost-effective solution to improve patient care. Future research on developing tailored educational resources for YWBC in resource-limited settings should be considered a priority.Keywords: breast cancer, young women, unmet needs, disparities, resource-limited settings, low- and middle-income countries
