In 2020, an estimated 2.3 million cases of female breast cancer were diagnosed globally, and about 685,000 women died from the disease. In women, breast cancer was the most diagnosed cancer in 157 (out of 185) countries, followed by cervical cancer in 23, mainly sub-Saharan African, countries and the leading cause of cancer death in 110 countries, followed by cervical cancer in 36 and lung cancer in 25 countries (NIH.gov).

About 1.1 million new cases and 712,000 deaths are reported annually in Africa in both sexes. Women are most affected as Breast cancer(BC) and Cervical Cancer(CC) are the most common cancers in Africa, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In Africa, BC and CC are responsible for 304,000(48%) and 162,532(42%) new cases and deaths in women annually respectively. A rapid increase in cancer burden is expected in SSA. In Ethiopia, two third of the cancer burden is in the women population with BC and CC being the most diagnosed cancer. About two third of the cancer patients in Ethiopia are diagnosed at the late stage at which the curative option is very limited. Moreover, knowledge and understanding about cancer and the availability of effective cancer treatment options are limited. Cancer patients hardly access palliative care as the service is rarely available. In Ethiopia, cancer patients face serious financial challenges to access sporadically available care as the care is not integrated with the health insurance schemes.