Knowledge, practices, and attitudes of women toward breast cancer in Lebanon

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major public health concern that affects both developed and developing countries. Its annual incidence is rising globally, accounting for 12% of all new cancer cases and 25% of all cancers in women as of 2012. Breast cancer is responsible for the most frequent malignancy-causing deaths and cancer-related mortality and morbidity in women, an epidemiological profile mirrored in almost every country. However, in developing countries, where health literacy, access to care, and resources are all scarce, these numbers become particularly alarming. They contribute to major health disparities between the developed and developing worlds, especially in that most women in developing nations who develop breast cancer seek healthcare only when the cancer is at an advanced stage.