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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2015

Open Access 01-06-2015 | Research article

Stage at presentation of breast cancer in Luanda, Angola - a retrospective study

Authors: Lygia Vieira Lopes, Fernando Miguel, Helga Freitas, António Tavares, Salvador Pangui, Clara Castro, Gonçalo Forjaz Lacerda, Adhemar Longatto-Filho, Elisabete Weiderpass, Lúcio Lara Santos

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

It is expected that, by 2020, 15 million new cases of cancer will occur every year in the world, one million of them in Africa. Knowledge of cancer trends in African countries is far from adequate, and improvements in cancer prevention efforts are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to characterize breast cancer clinically and pathologically at presentation in Luanda, Angola; we additionally provide quality information that will be useful for breast cancer care planning in the country.

Methods

Data on breast cancer cases were retrieved from the Angolan Institute of Cancer Control, from 2006 to 2014. For women diagnosed in 2009 (5-years of follow-up), demographic, clinical and pathological information, at presentation, was collected, namely age at diagnosis, parity, methods used for pathological diagnoses, tumor pathological characteristics, stage of disease and treatment. Descriptive statistics were performed.

Results

The median age of women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 was 47 years old (range 25–89). The most frequent clinical presentation was breast swelling with axillary lymph nodes metastasis (44.9 %), followed by a mass larger than 5 cm (14.2 %) and lump (12.9 %). Invasive ductal carcinoma was the main histologic type (81.8 %). Only 10.1 % of cancer cases had a well differentiated histological grade. Cancers were diagnosed mostly at advanced stages (66.7 % in stage III and 11.1 % in stage IV).

Discussion

In this study, breast cancer was diagnosed at a very advanced stage. Although it reports data from a single cancer center in Luanda, Angola it reinforces the need for early diagnosis and increasing awareness. According to the main challenges related to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment herein presented, we propose a realistic framework that would allow for the implementation of a breast cancer care program, built under a strong network based on cooperation, teaching, audit, good practices and the organization of health services.

Conclusion

Angola needs urgently a program for early diagnosis of breast cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Stage at presentation of breast cancer in Luanda, Angola - a retrospective study
Authors
Lygia Vieira Lopes
Fernando Miguel
Helga Freitas
António Tavares
Salvador Pangui
Clara Castro
Gonçalo Forjaz Lacerda
Adhemar Longatto-Filho
Elisabete Weiderpass
Lúcio Lara Santos
Publication date
01-06-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-1092-9

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