As of Presidential Decree No. 236/022 of July 2022, free coverage of expanders and prostheses is implemented for patients who have undergone a mastectomy for breast cancer or a mastectomy to reduce the risk of breast cancer. mammary glands, as well as their replacement when indicated by the treating physician.
Ministerial Ordinance No. 932 of the same month of 2022, approves lymphoscintigraphy free of charge for people who have an indication for a sentinel node study as part of the study and treatment of this cancer and melanoma.
In Uruguay, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women. According to figures from the Ministry of Public Health, each year approximately 700 women die from this cause, which corresponds, on average, to the death of two women from breast cancer per day.
Breast cancer is curable if detected in early stages, the degree of extension of the disease at the time of diagnosis significantly influences survival. In Uruguay, 72% of patients are diagnosed in early stages (I and II), and less than 10% are diagnosed with metastatic disease.
As for the initial symptoms that may appear are:
- nodule in the breast
- Swelling or change in shape of a breast
- Persistent changes in the skin of the breast
- Nipple alterations
- nipple discharge
- Nodules in the armpit
