Global Resources
Komen remains committed to fostering global breast cancer programs and research, and this commitment is reflected in both our funding opportunities and the resources that we provide for our Applicants and Grantees. These resources, as well as other helpful links can be found below.
The Health System Assessments are the backbone of Komen programming. These assessments are used as a framework to design evidence-based strategic plans for reducing breast cancer mortality in the target communities. The purpose is to determine the breast health and breast cancer gaps and needs of the local community, as well as assess the community’s strengths and assets.
Conducted in collaboration with in-country partners, the assessments are aimed at defining the available infrastructure and quality of public health services, understanding the factors that determine why women enter the breast cancer continuum of care, and identifying the barriers that prevent women from completing the continuum. The resulting assessment reports provide a unique view of breast cancer care useful for the social, private and public sectors.
Brazil
Breast Health Care System Assessment
São Paulo, Brazil (2012)
An overview of the breast cancer care in the city of São Paulo and opportunities to improve breast health.
Pathways and Barriers for Breast Cancer Patients in Salvador
Salvador, Brazil (2015)
An assessment of the breast cancer situation in Salvador and its Metropolitan Region, and review of the pathways followed by patients in the public health system from screening to treatment.
Sergipe Breast Healthcare Assessment
Sergipe, Brazil (2017)
An assessment of breast cancer early detection, diagnosis and treatment in Sergipe, Brazil.
Mexico
Monterrey Health System’s Analysis
Monterrey, Mexico (2013)
A review of the available infrastructure for breast cancer care in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA) and time intervals for cancer treatment.
Diagnosis of the quality, infrastructure and barriers of breast cancer programs in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (GMA)
Guadalajara, Mexico (2016) – Spanish
A study of the access and availability of preventive health services for breast cancer in the GMA.
Panama
Barriers and opportunities for women with breast cancer in Panama City)
Panama City, Panama (2012) – Spanish
A qualitative study documenting the breast cancer continuum of care and a multi-stakeholder review of the perceptions, barriers and opportunities for improved breast cancer care in Panama City.
Barriers and opportunities in breast health care for indigenous women and women in the provinces of Chiriquí, Herrera, Los Santos and Veraguas
Panama (2014) – Spanish
A qualitative study of the perceptions, knowledge, practices and expectations of women in the 4 provinces and indigenous women in Panama, and an analysis of the cultural factors, health equity and community environment that affect progression throughout the continuum of care.
Tanzania
Tanzania Breast Health Care Assessment
Tanzania (2017)
An assessment of breast cancer early detection, diagnosis and treatment in Tanzania.
Zambia
A comprehensive assessment of breast and cervical cancer control in Zambia
Zambia (2015)
An assessment of the status of breast and cervical cancer control services in Zambia at the provincial level and recommendations for public policy and planning.
Programs, projects and/or processes with demonstrated effectiveness and positive impact are considered Promising Practices. Organizations working in breast health are sharing these practices with Komen in an effort to promote knowledge sharing among national and international audiences. This capture of experiences based on evidence and systematic approaches act as a link in the exchange of information. Documents on Promising Practices will be shared here as they become available.
We believe in the power of collaboration and sharing of information in our efforts to end breast cancer forever. The following resources are collaborative works that have helped to improve breast cancer control around the globe.
National Guidelines for Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer and Referral for Treatment
First set of guidelines in Tanzania that focus on a national response to promote early diagnosis of breast cancer and offer a referral pathway to proper treatment and management of the disease..
Breast Cancer Patient support guide (Brazil)
A patient manual that outlines patients’ rights and empowers individuals to make decisions about their own care.
BHGI: The Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) strives to develop, implement and study evidence-based, economically feasible, and culturally appropriate Guidelines for International Breast Health and Cancer Control for low- and middle-income countries (LMCs) to improve breast health outcomes and access to breast cancer screening, detection and treatment for women. Please check the organization’s website for more information at https://www.fredhutch.org/.
CLEAR: Regional Centers for Learning on Evaluation and Results aims to strengthen partner countries’ capacities and systems in monitoring and evaluation. Please check the organization’s website for more information at https://www.theclearinitiative.org.
International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation facilitates sharing ideas across the global evaluation community, promotes good governance of evaluation associations, and champions the recognition of the value and contributions of evaluations to improve the lives of people. Please check the organization’s website for more information at http://www.ioce.net/en/interactivemap/map.html.
National Cancer Institute: A list of cancer information services is available at www.cancer.gov, or may be requested by writing to the NCI Public Inquiries Office, Cancer Information Service Branch, Room 3036A, 6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC 8322, Bethesda, MD 20892-8322, USA.
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC): UICC is a membership based, non-governmental organisation that exists to “unite the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater equity, and to integrate cancer control into the world health and development agenda.” UICC engage with over 850 organisations across 155 countries that features the world’s major cancer societies; research institutes; treatment centres, hospitals, scientific and professional societies; ministries of health, public health agencies; and patient support groups.
Contact UICC: Union for International Cancer Control 62, route de Frontenex, 1207 Geneva, Switzerland, Telephone: +41 22 809 1811, email: info@uicc.org, website: http://www.uicc.org/
