Purpose: Until 2016, there was no oncologist in Togo. This study reviewed the first four years of activities in the practice of clinical oncology in the country to provide the cancer profile, the treatment, and outcomes of patients.Methods: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of patients diagnosed with cancer seen in oncology in Togo from March 2016 to March 2020. Data on presentation, staging, treatment, and outcomes were reviewed. Statistics were computed using SPSS.Results: A total of 897 patients were included. There were 625 women (69.7%) and 272 men (30.3%). The mean age at diagnosis was 53.48 years for men and 52.39 for women and more than half of patients were under 60 years. A cancer diagnosis was histologically confirmed in 81.2% of patients. For both sexes, breast cancer was the commonest followed by cervix cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate, and stomach cancer. In men, prostate cancer ranked first followed respectively by gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. The most common cancer in women was breast cancer followed by cervix cancer. Majority of patients (60%) presented at a late stage. 531 patients (59.2%) received at least one cancer therapy modality but more than half of treated patients did not complete their treatment. After fifty-eight months of follow-up, only 132 patients (14.7%) in the all-study population are alive. Conclusion: This study describes the epidemiology and oncologic treatment in Togolese patients. Breast and Prostate are the leading cancer diagnoses in our population. Most patients presented at an advanced stage and the treatment was palliative in a majority of patients. There is an urgent need for early detection of cancer in Togo.
e19213 Background: Choosing Wisely Africa, builds on Choosing Wisely (CW) in the USA, Canada and India, and aims to identify low-value, unnecessary, or harmful cancer practices that are frequently used on the African continent. Methods: The CWA Task Force was convened by African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and included representatives in surgical, medical and radiation oncology, the private and public sectors and patient advocacy group. Consensus was built through a modified Delphi process shortening a long list of practices to a short list then to a final list. Results: Of the 10 practices on the final list, one is a new suggestion, 9 are revisions or adaptations of practices from previous CW campaign lists. One item relates to palliative care, 8 concern treatment, and 1 relates to surveillance. Conclusions: The success of this campaign will be measured by how the list is implemented across sub-Saharan Africa and whether it improves the delivery of high-quality cancer care. [Table: see text]
Introduction: Although the standard treatment for stromal tumours is surgery, in locally advanced forms, it is often necessary to achieve tumour downstaging to improve surgical outcomes. Neoadjuvant treatment in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including imatinib, has been shown to be effective in several studies, but the duration of this treatment is still a subject of debate. Case report: We report a case of a large GIST of the stomach in a 51-year-old patient with atypical presentation that was initially unresectable. Neoadjuvant treatment with imatinib for 16 months resulted in a good response, allowing secondary surgical excision. Conclusion: Imatinib in neoadjuvant therapy should be continued as long as there is a good response and tolerance to the medication to obtain tumour downsizing compatible with carcinologic excision.
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