Objective: to assess actions for breast cancer early detection in the Brazilian National Health System using process indicators.
Methods: this is a descriptive study with secondary data from the Breast Cancer Information System (Sismama), for the period from 2010 to 2011.
Results: 5,759,503 mammograms and 44,892 histopathological tests were assessed; screening mammography was predominant (96.2%), with annual interval (44.6%) and 51.2% of the patients were in the recommended age group (50 to 69 years); mammogram report was emitted in 30 days in 61.7% of the cases; among the 17,343 malignant lesions confirmed in the histopathological tests, 66.4% were detected through clinical examination.
Conclusion: screening actions and early diagnosis in disagreement with the Ministry of Health's recommendations may compromise its effectiveness and entail greater risk to women; it is necessary to improve professional's adherence to screening guidelines, as well as enhance the control and assessment of the health services.