Overcoming challenges to breast cancer screening among Muslim women: addressing barriers to early detection and treatment: A correspondence

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women. In an attempt to decrease its mortality, screening guidelines recommend mammograms, breast self-examinations, and breast clinical examinations for women above the age of 40. Compliance to these guidelines have been found to be significantly low in Muslim women which has been linked to their perceptions of religious guidelines regarding modesty and fatalism. In order to overcome these barriers and increase screening rates among Muslim women, faith-based intervention has been proven to be effective as it incorporates the use of religious leaders and allows the concerns of women to be addressed directly.