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Breast Cancer Management Among Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Populations: a Call to Action

  • Global Breast Cancer (AB Chagpar, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The prevalence of breast cancer is rising among refugees and displaced populations worldwide, and late-stage diagnosis has contributed to poor health outcomes in these populations. With a specific focus on the Middle East and Lebanon in particular, we discuss the challenges associated with breast cancer prevention and treatment among refugees and displaced populations and highlight priorities for urgent and needed action.

Recent Findings

In the Middle East, a complex interplay of social, cultural, economic, and political factors results in delayed diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer among displaced populations. For most displaced women, the most extensive barriers to care are related to cost, transportation, stigma, inadequate cancer education, and a lack of knowledge of and difficulty accessing a host country’s health system.

Summary

As a result of a lack of attention, limited finances, and insufficient support from humanitarian organizations and host governments, refugees and displaced populations with or at risk for breast cancer in the Middle East face significant barriers to accessing support, preventative care, and treatment resources. Breast cancer has yet to become a priority for international relief agencies and host governments in part due to misperceptions that breast cancers consistently present with poor prognoses and are too costly to treat. With the burden of breast cancer and the number of displaced individuals across the world both rising, host governments and the international community must reconsider and develop new strategies for breast cancer prevention and treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Jude Alawa

  2. Multi Aid Programs (MAPs), Beirut, Lebanon

    Fadi Alhalabi

  3. Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, Ste 405, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Kaveh Khoshnood

Authors
  1. Jude Alawa
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  2. Fadi Alhalabi
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  3. Kaveh Khoshnood
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Correspondence to Kaveh Khoshnood.

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Alawa, J., Alhalabi, F. & Khoshnood, K. Breast Cancer Management Among Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Populations: a Call to Action. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 11, 129–135 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-019-00314-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-019-00314-6

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