Improving early diagnosis of breast cancer in a public healthcare network in El Salvador

Grant for early detection of breast cancer - National Cancer Institute, Misrata – Libya

Asociación Salvadoreña para la Prevención del Cáncer – El Salvador

As part of the Breast Cancer programme, this project was awarded a grant for early detection of breast cancer in October 2022.

Project objectives

This pilot project sought to strengthen the national strategy for the early detection of breast cancer in El Salvador, through the use of a model of care previously developed and tested in Peru, which includes effective community awareness combined with the training of healthcare professionals in the early detection of breast cancer and timely referral.

Project description

The project team built strong partnerships in the region, including with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which were instrumental in strengthening early breast cancer detection in the country by integrating breast cancer screening into the existing cervical cancer screening programme.

The training programme developed included modules on clinical breast examination (CBE), fine needle biopsy (FNB), and community-based breast health promotion. A total of 95 healthcare professionals were trained to perform CBE and FNB. During the project period, 500 clinical breast examinations were conducted, and 20 fine needle biopsies were performed on women with palpable breast nodules—an important achievement, as FNBs were not previously performed due to a lack of trained professionals.

The team also launched an awareness campaign reaching 750 women in the community with information on breast health and early warning signs of breast cancer. A further 1,050 women received information via educational resources that were disseminated.

Key numbers

95 health care professionals trained on CBE and FNB

500 women received CBE

20 FNB performed

1,800 women educated on breast health and self-examination

Impact

Thanks to these collaborations, the team held a Parliamentary Forum on the Early Detection of Breast Cancer in alliance with the Commission on Women and Gender Equality of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador after the end of the grant. The training programme (including modules on CBE, FNB, screening with ultrasound and promoting breast health in the community) has since been officially included in the Ministry of Health’s annual operational plan, marking a significant institutional achievement for the organisation and country.

The advocacy efforts of the organisation led to the allocation of national budget funds in 2024 to continue the project. These developments ensure that the tools, training, and awareness efforts initiated by the project will continue to strengthen the national early detection programme and improve access to timely diagnosis for women across the country.

Looking forward, the strategic priorities of the Asociación Salvadoreña para la Prevención del Cáncer include the expansion of training programmes and the reinforcement of diagnostic infrastructure in underserved regions of El Salvador, particularly in areas where existing resources are insufficient. Moreover, El Salvador’s selection in 2023 by the ATOM (Access to Oncology Medicines) Coalition, along with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UICC and the Ministry of Health of El Salvador in June 2024, is expected to improve access to essential medicines. This will further strengthen national efforts in the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer.