Overview

• La República reports that 70% of breast cancer cases in Peru are detected at advanced stages due to limited access to timely screening.
• Specialists cite a lack of mammographs, scarce oncology personnel, restricted access to innovative medicines, and equipment breakdowns that delay care, including radiotherapy.
• A 28-year-old EsSalud patient described nearly a year to biopsy, subsequent private radiotherapy because of unavailable appointments and a broken machine, and use of a drug not covered by public insurance.
• Health authorities are intensifying October actions with training sessions, synchronized pink building lightings, a free women’s services fair on Oct. 18, and end‑of‑month detection workshops.
• Clinicians emphasize that early detection offers very high cure chances, recommend annual mammography starting at 40 with earlier individualized screening for high‑risk patients, and note advances such as precision medicine, immunotherapy and antibody‑drug conjugates.