The Role of Charities in Prevention and Detection of Breast Cancer

Cancer prevention is an important action in the period of resistive economy. Breast cancer (BC) is the most common women cancer worldwide. BC is preventable cancer. Cancer screening aims to find cancer in the early stage when a patient is in the asymptomatic phase. Early diagnosis causes patient management easier in the shorter period, more effective with less cost, ultimately screening leads to increase survival rate and improve patient’s quality of life.
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of charities in the screening and early detection of breast cancer in the period of resistive economy.

First, we received a list of non-governmental charities along with their areas of activity from the National Network of Charities (NNC) in the area of cancer and then we analyzed the reports of four non-governmental charities that have been active in the prevention and screening of BC.

There are more than 60 non-governmental organizations in the field of cancer in the country. NNC covers 34 of them. Most of their activities were financial and non-financial supports (85%), the second activity was in the field of education and information (80%). We received the reports of four charities that have been involved in the primary and secondary prevention of BC.

Cancer charities in Iran are active in the area of information and public education for BC prevention. They have limited experience on early detection and they didn’t document their activities. It is necessary to work together and developed their activities based on scientific documents. We suggest to collaborate with research centers and other scientific organization and documented their activities with precise. NNCs in cancer play a key role in this regard.