Unveiling social and chemical disparities in the mortality burden of breast cancer in Mexican women
This colloquium will explore new databases from Mexico on the link between environmental risk factors and breast cancer (BC) to reflect on how individuals, health specialists, business owners, and policymakers consider environmental risks in their decision-making processes to shape local and national public health policies. BC is the most frequent neoplasm in Mexico, contributing to almost 17% of malignant neoplasia in women. For the last 20 years the mortality rate of the disease has been increasing. Disparities in access to screening, diagnostic and medical treatment are structural determinants that impact on BC survival. The lack of population-based cancer registers in the country limits the possibility to know the behavior of the disease in younger women. About causal factors, less than 20% of the cases can be linked to inherited genes, suggesting that additional external exposures contribute to the burden of the disease. A recent research study reported novel connections between over 900 chemicals which are commonly found in food, air, water and personal care products, and BC. Mexico is a country in continuous industrialization, with flexible environmental regulations and dense population in urban-industrial neighborhoods. Several open questions remain regarding how to integrate this new evidence into BC prevention strategies, virtual assistance systems, risk management schemes, prediction algorithms, and policy design. The colloquium will outline the practical outcomes of the Social Hackathon initiative, which is aimed at addressing these issues. The Hackathon will take place in the lead-up to the EAAMO 24 conference in San Luis de Potosí.
After the colloquium talk, we had a panel discussion on the topic of the colloquium talk.
Panelists:
Dr. Jacqueline Calderón Hernández (Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí and visiting professor at Boston College): Dr. Calderón is a researcher in environmental toxicology and has led studies on the relationship between contaminants such as arsenic and lead, and public health. Her research has been fundamental to understanding the impacts of environmental factors on breast cancer.
Dr. Daniel Acosta Díaz de León (State Coordinator of the IMSS-Bienestar OPD, San Luis Potosí): Dr. Acosta Díaz de León leads efforts to guarantee medical access and free medications in San Luis Potosí, as part of the federalization process of health services. With more than 30 years of experience in neurosurgery, he has focused on improving medical care and hospital infrastructure in the region.
Dr. Imelda Flores Vázquez (Business Analytics Senior Advisor, The Cigna Group): Dr. Flores Vázquez, with her extensive experience in health economics and advanced analytics, will offer her perspective on how public policies can be informed and improved through the application of rigorous analysis. She is also co-organizer of the EAAMO-REDNACECYT International Summer of Science.
Dr. Willy Tonatiuh Escalante Silva (Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto Central Hospital): Dr. Escalante, a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics, will provide his expertise in women's health, especially in relation to the effects of environmental factors on gynecological conditions.
