The article focuses on two women's cancers, breast and cervical cancer, that are much more deadly in developing countries than in developed countries. Early detection can make a significant difference for the treatment outcome of these two cancers and there are now cost-effective tools for prevention and screening. The authors propose a new public health approach to these two cancers in developing countries where resources for effective cancer control are very limited and offer a framework for putting women's cancers in developing countries on the global public health agenda. The key areas are: 1. Proposals for a new, integrated public health approach to women's cancers (breast and cervical) in resource poor settings; 2. Reviews of the evidence for cost-effective screening and early detection of breast and cervical cancer, and discussion of some of the lessons learned from HIV/AIDS on an integrated health systems approach; 3. Outlines of ways to make a priority of women?s cancers in developing countries on the political agenda of international agencies.