Health promotion in public policies directed to breast cancer

Abstract

This article is a reflection on the insertion of breast health in the context of health policies in Brazil. The objective was to conduct a descriptive reflexive study about public policies and the health promotion in breast cancer, investigating the current trends in the literature on the existence of policies on health promotion targeted to breast cancer. The discussion is presented on two topics: public policies involving breast cancer and advances in health promotion in breast cancer in Brazil. There is an urgent need to recast public policies that allow full attention to women’s health, that focus and preserve the their autonomy and dignity and that effectively provide favorable conditions for health promotion. With that, promote breast health means act in the protection to certain environmental factors and daily lifestyles, which could contribute to reduce the incidence of such illness.