Resources for the attention of patients with breast cancer in Mexico

Abstract

Multicenter studies on breast cancer require inter-institutional collaboration, resources and specialized personnel. In Mexico, many institutions provide these services, but their information is not accessible; to mitigate it, the Mexican Society of Oncology formed the Mexican Cooperative Research Groups in Oncology. Objective: To describe the infrastructure, personnel and activities of hospitals with care of patients with breast cancer in Mexico. Methods: A survey was conducted to 30 breast cancer specialists about resources and services of their institutions. Results: 13 (43.3%) specialists answered the survey, 38.5% of Seguro Popular, 23.1% of Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, and 38.4% of other institutions, with a median of 300 (50-950) new cases per year. All the institutions have oncological surgery, breast radiology, palliative care, pathology, nutrition and multidisciplinary sessions. All have ultrasound with breast transducer, 92.3% digital mammography, and 53.8% tomosynthesis and/or magnetic resonance. They do sentinel lymph node detection with dye (92.3%) or radionuclide (61.5%). Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors and trastuzumab are available in 92.3%, and other target therapies in < 40%. Genetic signatures are done in 21.3% and 61.5% analysis of hereditary cancer. Conclusions: The institutional capacity to participate in multicenter studies is heterogeneous; the few resources in several institutions limit their inclusion to studies of breast cancer.