Breast cancer in quilombo descendant cities in the state of Pará

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of reported breast cancer cases in women residing in
officially recognized quilombo communities’ descendant cities in the state of Pará. Methods: This is a descriptive epidemiological study, with a quantitative approach, comprising malignant breast neoplasms reported in municipalities with
quilombo territories officially recognized by the Instituto de Terras do Pará from 2020 to 2025. It was based on data from
the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS). Results: During the study period, a
total of 1,011 cases of breast cancer were reported in the population analyzed in the state of Pará. Ananindeua was the
city with the highest number of recorded cases (n=368; 36.3%) and also conducted the highest number of mammography
screenings. The most affected age group was 45-49 years, and the most frequently reported staging at diagnosis was grade
3. Conclusion: The term “quilombo descendant territories” refers to areas historically occupied by Afro-descendant individuals who fled enslavement and its associated systemic violence. Recent literature suggest a more aggressive course of
breast cancer in Black individuals, particularly due to later-stage diagnoses. To the best of our knowledge, epidemiological studies focusing on these specific populations remain scarce, especially in the Northern region of Brazil. The findings
of this study may support the development and implementation of public health policies aimed at early diagnosis and
disease control in these territories.