Determinants of Late Presentation and Histologic types of Breast Cancer in Women Presenting at a Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana
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Date
2015-11-13
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MedCrave
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the
leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In Ghana and many parts of Africa
more than 50% of breast cancer patients present with advanced stage even
though evidence suggests that health education on breast cancer has intensified.
Objectives: To determine the socio demographic characteristics of women
presenting with breast cancer, pattern of presentation and the association
between patients demographic characteristics and stage of presentation.
Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study over a period of three months was
conducted at the Breast clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
Women with histological diagnosis of breast cancer were interviewed using a
structured questionnaire.
Results: Fifty women with breast cancer were studied with ages between 27 and
75 years with peak between 40-49 years. Majority presented three months after
noticing the first symptom, usually a breast lump. Twenty nine (58%) women
presented with late stage breast cancer. The commonest histologic type 44(88%)
was invasive ductal Carcinoma. There was a strong positive correlation between
stage of breast cancer and place of residence (0.4496) but a weak positive
correlation between stage of breast cancer and age (0.1684), as was also stage
of breast cancer and marital status (0.1143). There was a negative correlation
between level of education and stage of presentation (-0.3398).
Conclusion: Breast Cancer is common in 40-49 age groups. The incidence of late
stage breast cancer is 58% with majority presenting within 7-12 months of onset
of first symptoms, mostly breast lumps with invasive ductal carcinoma as the most
common histologic type in stage 3. Fear of mastectomy was the main reason
for late presentation. Most patients had some knowledge on breast cancer mostly
from the radio stations. The stage of Breast cancer was strongly associated with
patients’ level of education, residence (distance from facility) and religion
Description
Published in the Journal of Cancer Prevention & Current Research. Volume 3 Issue 4 - 2015.
Keywords
Determinants, Late Presentation, Breast Cancer, Women
Citation
Published in Journal of Cancer Prevention & Current Research. Volume 3 Issue 4 - 2015