Sociodemographic correlates and management of breast cancer in Radiotherapy Department, Lagos University Teaching Hospital: A 10-year review

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed life-threatening malignant disease in women. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the sociodemographic correlates and management of breast cancer in a tertiary hospital. Patients and Methods: Case notes of histologically confirmed breast cancer patients were retrieved, and data extracted were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 (SPSS Incorporation, Chicago, Illinois State, United States of America). Results: A total of 1141 cases were analyzed, of which 1132 (99.2%) were female and 9 (0.8%) were male, with a ratio of 1:126. The range was between 9 and 20 years. The mean age was 46.8 ± 12.2 years, whereas most of the cases were between 50 and 59 years (23.0%). The mean age at menarche was 14.7 ± 2.2 years, whereas less than two-third of the patients were between 13 and 16 years (63.4%). The mean age at first pregnancy was 24.3 ± 4.7 years, whereas majority of them were between 20 and 29 years (71.4%). The mean age at menopause was 49.0 ± 5.7 years, whereas more than a third of the patients were between 45 and 49 years (37.5%). The median number of children ever born was 4 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3–5). Majority of the patients are married (84.1%). The median duration of breastfeeding of the patients was 12 (IQR: 12–18) months. The mean body mass index was 28.6 ± 6.5, whereas about a third of them are obese (34.7%). Majority of the patients have unskilled occupation (51.1%). The test of association between sociodemographic characteristics and histology status revealed a significant association between age of patients (P = 0.013**), marital status (P = 0.027**), age at menarche (P = 0.009**), and number of children (P = 0.034**). The test of association between sociodemographic characteristics and stage of disease revealed a significant association between age at menarche (P = 0.018**), age at menopause (P = 0.041**), age at pregnancy (P = 0.036**), and body mass index (P = 0.028**). A total of 213 (30.9%) cases had combined treatment, 289 (59.4%) had a mastectomy, and 294 (71.6%) had radiotherapy. The treatment outcome revealed that 549 (48.1%) were lost to follow-up, 447 (39.2%) were dead, and 145 (12.7%) were alive after 2 years posttreatment. Conclusion: Sociodemographic characteristics such as age of patients, age at menarche, and marital status had a significant association with histology, whereas age at menarche, age at menopause, age at pregnancy, and body index mass had a significant association with stage of disease, therefore influencing health outcomes for breast cancer.

Keywords

• awareness
• breast cancer
• risk factors
• screening
• sociodemographic