Public actions for control of breast cancer in Brazil: integrative review

Objective: to analyze the scientific production on "breast cancer" in the period from 2002 to 2013 and determine the public policies for screening and early diagnosis of breast cancer. Method: this is an integrative literature review conducted in the databases MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria: year and period of publication; availability of the full article; publication in Brazil; and the cross-check of the keywords Breast Cancer, Primary Health Care, Screening Programs, and Early Detection of Cancer. Results: after analysis, four thematic categories were obtained: breast self-examination, clinical examination of breast, mammography, and factors that hinder the adherence to the screening. Conclusion: health professionals have deficits of knowledge on the area, indicating the need for other studies on the subject addressed and greater investment in continuing education of professionals.