Breast cancer care in northern Ethiopia – cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background In Ethiopia, the incidence of new cases of breast cancer is currently increasing resulting to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer accounting for more than one out of three cancer cases in women and one out of every five in the general population. The study was conducted in University of Gondar Hospital cancer center, located in the North-West Ethiopia; to evaluate the clino-pathologic characteristics of breast cancer and care provided for patients. Methods All biopsy proven breast cancer patients treated between 2016 and 2017, were identified and information regarding histology, stage, therapeutic procedure and follow up was retrospectively collected from their individual medical records and descriptive analysis was done. Results Among 82 patients treated, 67 (82%) were women and 15 (18%) were men. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 45 years (25–82 years). Operation was performed for 56 (68%) patients. The predominant histology was ductal carcinoma in 61 patients (74%), followed by breast carcinoma of No Special Type (NST) in 17 (21%). The late presentation of the patients and the advanced stage at the time of presentation was observed in most of the patients. Chemotherapy was administered in 79 (96%) patients. Radiotherapy was not available in the hospital. Conclusion Breast cancer incidence is rising and becoming a major public health problem in Northern Ethiopia. Breast cancer care in northern-Ethiopia is limited in terms of both pathology, imaging and the offered treatment modalities, which need to be improved.

<p>Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Patients Attending Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Cancer Treatment Center</p>

“…In this study, most dominating management of breast cancer is chemotherapy (89.2%) which is consistent with the results of study conducted in Northern Ethiopia (96%). 20 Alternatively, it is very high from the findings of studies conducted in Malaysia (72%), eastern China (47.4%), Saudi Arabia (43.8%), Sri Lanka (34.5%), Turkey (16.4%), and Iranian end-line finding (4.4%). 19,23,[26][27][28] However, 29.5% of the patients had received radiotherapy which is lower than finding of a Saudi Arabian study.…”

“…23 However, this finding is higher than findings of some studies conducted in Malaysia (68.4%), Panama (65.3%), and Ethiopia (68% and 45.5%). 19,20,[23][24][25] The most probable reasons for the variation of results could be the level of service, the duration and stage of breast cancer at which patients seek care. In this study, most dominating management of breast cancer is chemotherapy (89.2%) which is consistent with the results of study conducted in Northern Ethiopia (96%).…”

“…23 But it is at a better level in comparison to findings ofstudies in Turkey and northern Ethiopia where the service is not available at all. 20,28 Only 3.5% had an earlier history of breast cancer. Previous history was excluded in Saudi Arabian and Australian studies.…”

“…Nearly two-fifths (60.6%) of respondents said that they did not seek medical diagnosis because of lack of money. Table 6 represents the mean score and percent of the QOL scales of WHOQOL-BREF Breast Cancer-specific-BR23 questionnaires among the respondents (20). Mean score of overall global health scale was 75.3 (SD±17.1) and their mean health satisfaction was estimated to be 12.43 (SD ±3.98).…”

Perspectives of patients, family members, and health care providers on late diagnosis of breast cancer in Ethiopia: A qualitative study

“…In addition, the studies included were all based on data obtained before 2014. Since then, various changes have occurred within Ethiopia and Africa such as more political attention to cancer care [9], but late stage disease presentation is still a major problem [10]. The Ethiopian National Cancer Control Plan was drafted in 2015 for the period of 2016–2020 aimed at improving early diagnosis of cervical and breast cancer.…”