Objective:

to establish the percentage of timely treatments and their determinants in a group of Colombian women with breast cancer supported by six non-governmental organizations.

Methodology:

An analytical observational study was performed which included women with breast cancer supported by six nongovernmental organizations in Colombia. Data were gathered retrospectively via surveys and triangulation of documents to establish the course of care.

Results:

a total of 240 women were included, 17.1% of which had been treated in time. Health services were denied to 30.4% of the women, and legal actions to claim the right to health (named "tutelas" in Spanish) were taken by 31.2% of the women. The multivariate analysis established that a schooling level beyond high school is related to timely access to treatment. (OR: 3.62; p value: 0.001).

Discussion:

in Colombia, timely access to breast cancer treatment is socially determined and schooling level plays an important role.

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