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Objective. To estimate the mortality age-standardized rates (ASR) for breast and cervical cancer from 2000-2007 and explore social indicators that explain the variability of rates in Antioquia. Material and Methods. The ASR was estimated by the direct method and linear regression was used to relate social indicators with rates by subregion. Results. Breast and cervical cancer mortality ASRs in Antioquia were 11.3 and 9.1 per 100 000 woman-years respectively. In Medellin, the breast cancer mortality ASR was 12.5, 1.8 times the rate of cervical cancer. A decrease of cervical cancer ASR between 2000 and 2007 was observed in Medellin (p-value=0.03) but not in the rest of Antioquia. Cervical cancer mortality ASR was related to the percentage of poverty (p-value=0.0003). Conclusions. Mortality due to these neoplasms has remained constant in Antioquia. The wide variation in mortality from cervical cancer between regions seems to be associated with poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Establish provider delay for breast cancer and related factors. Material and Methods. 1 106 women with breast cancer were approached in health care institutions of Bogota, Colombia. According to the history of first consultation, we established diagnostic and treatment incidence rates, which were compared for different variables. A Cox hazard model was established. Results. Median time from first consultation to diagnosis and start of treatment were 91 days (CI95%:82-97 days) and 137 days (CI95%: 127-147 days) respectively. Diagnosis and treatment were faster in women with higher educational level, affiliated to the "special" social security, with better socioeconomic conditions and in screening-detected breast cancers. Conclusion. Provider delay is excessive. There are clear inequities in access to services and a need of reducing the waiting times for women with a suspicion of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer has become an important health risk for women worldwide. The important growth of breast cancer-related deaths within those caused by malign tumors throughout the globe went past the 460 000 in 2008, becoming the deadliest disease worldwide. Demographic changes and lifestyles have modified the population exposure to risk factors of maladies such as cancer, and since 1980 breast cancer mortality has remained on an upward tendency, surpassing cervical cancer in 2006. After analyzing mortality rates along 30 years in Mexican women 25 or more years old, differences by state and age-groups are apparent. Although this cause of death has been associated with a highest regional development, some changes are taking place, since the number of deaths is also growing among women of less-developed regions in the country, as showed in this work. Mexico faces an evident challenge regarding breast cancer . Our country requires to join efforts and implement programs aimed at teaching self-care of health among the population, promoting healthier lifestyles, and reshaping our diagnostic infrastructure to achieve earlier detection and provide proper treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]