Cancer is an emerging public health priority inCameroon, yet access to screening services has remained fragmented and limited,with no formal guidance to health facilities and medical practitioners on howto provide screening services. According to estimates by the Global CancerObservatory (GLOBOCAN), in 2022, breast cancer was the most frequentlydiagnosed cancer in Cameroon, with 4,207 cases, and the leading cause ofcancer-related deaths, with 2,285 deaths. This burden is compounded by the factthat breast cancer is often detected at late stages, leading to high mortalityand reduced chances of survival.

During the Data to Policy (D2P) program in Cameroon in 2024, one of the participating teams produced a policy brief on breast cancer, recommending a combined strategy ofincreasing community awareness as well as scaling up screening services for breast cancer. The team developed a plan to move their recommendations forward during Data Impact’s cross-country Policy Advancement Workshop in November2024, and by February 2025, Cameroon’s National Cancer Control Committee had assigned staff to begin developing the country’s first national breast cancer screening guideline. Between March and July 2025, drafting of the guidelinestook place, including validation and review meetings with government and non-government stakeholders, which led to the inclusion of practical job aidsfor clinicians to help them increase screening implementation. In August 2025, Ministry of Health (MINSANTE) rolled outtargeted outreach at subnational levels to ensure health workers andcommunities across Cameroon benefit from the new guidelines.

Alongside thetechnical work, MINSANTE commissioned a documentary to raise awareness among at-risk women aboutearly detection of breast cancer, ensuring that policy change would be pairedwith public engagement. The accompanying testimonial video—featuring survivors,health officials, and experts - was used during Pink October 2025 to mobilize public support for early screening.With this, Cameroon is taking steps to equip its health system with the toolsto detect breast cancer earlier, treat it more effectively, and reducepreventable deaths. The work also demonstrates how evidence generated throughpolicy briefs is translated directly into government-led guidelines,reinforcing Cameroon’s National Cancer Control Strategy and aligning withglobal commitments to strengthen noncommunicable disease prevention.