Assessing Breast and Cervical Cancer in India: A Literature Review

This thesis reviews the existing literature on breast and cervical cancer in India with the goal of assessing the health-care infrastructure that supports diagnosis and treatment of these cancers. Through a comprehensive review of global health databases, governmental frameworks, and quantitative as well as qualitative assessments from research institutions, I argue that the existing health-care system in India does not adequately address the rising burden of breast and cervical cancer nor the barriers that impede women from seeking care, such as lack of knowledge, cost of care, and social stigma. Although the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently implemented a framework for the management of common cancers in late 2016, many women still present with cancers at a stage at which 5-year survival outcomes are very poor. To address the burden of late-stage breast and cervical cancer, I argue that India must place a higher priority on implementing a comprehensive national screening program to increase rates of early detection and strengthen health-care facilities at every level of care to provide accessible care to both urban and rural populations.