International Journal of Medicine and Health Development (Jan 2001)
Carcinoma of the breast in young Nigerian women at Enugu
Abstract
Aim: To determine the extent to which cancer of the breast affected young Nigerian women at Enugu. Method: Analysis was based on case notes of 291 Nigerian women, presenting with breast cancer at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; between 1990 and 1995. Information of interest in particular were the age of the patients, how soon they consulted doctors and the treatment after histological evaluation of the biopsy specimen removed from the patients. Results: One hundred and thirty-two female patients (45.4%) of 291 analysed were aged 40 years or below. Only 42 of the 132 patients came with early carcinoma of the breast. The rest came with advanced carcinoma of the breast. Fifty one(38.6%) reported to doctors within 6 months of seeing the breast lump, while 81 patients (61.4%) delayed beyond six months, some waited for as long as 24 months before consulting doctors. The commonest histological type seen was invasive ductal carcinoma. These patients had standard surgical treatment for the stage of the disease, except one that rejected surgery. Conclusion: Considering the number of women treated for cancer of the breast in this study, the occurrence of this disease in 45.4% of the young women is high. There were significant delays among these young women before consulting doctors.
