National Plan for Prevention, Early Detection, and Cancer Control in Peru

Abstract

Peru currently is executing an ambitious plan for cancer control: its first nationwide program of cancer prevention and cancer control, and the first such program launched in Latin America. The adequate strategies were identified from previous experience developing smaller initiatives and from knowledge of our epidemiology and priorities. The geographic landscape and sociocultural differences, in which inequalities play a significant role in access to quality education and specialized cancer care, are the main challenges to elaborate strategies to diminish our burden of advanced disease. Challenges were not only identified for the poorest people, but for other sectors of the population. With a growing Peruvian economy in a globalized market context, emerging sectors are being exposed to new risk factors for cancer and educational strategies were implemented. The development of the National Plan for Cancer Control was launched involving not only technical efforts by a multidisciplinary team, but also political concertation.