Research

Breast cancer patients’ presentation for oncological treatment: a single centre study

Akinbolaji Andrew Akinkuolie^1,&, Amarachukwu Chiduziem Etonyeaku¹, Olalekan Olasehinde¹, Olukayode Adeolu Arowolo¹, Rereloluwa Nicodemus Babalola²

 

¹Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, ²Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospitals Complex Ile-Ife, Nigeria

 

 

^&Corresponding author
Akinbolaji Andrew Akinkuolie, Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

 

 

 

 

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer among women worldwide and the most common cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality [1-3]. There is marked geographical variation in morbidity and mortality of breast cancer between the developed and developing countries [4-7]. Breast cancer screening and early presentation has changed the dismal outcome of this disease in the developed countries where despite increasing incidence, the morbidity and mortality are declining [4, 8]. However, the contrary is true in developing countries especially Nigeria where despite alarming increase in incidence, about 70 - 80% of breast cancer patients are still presenting with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer [9-12]. More worrisome is the World Health Organization (WHO) report that expects world breast cancer incidence and mortality to increase by 50% by 2020 and this increase is anticipated to be highest in the developing countries of which Nigeria is inclusive: where 55% increase in incidence and 58% increase in mortality is predicted [13, 14]. In preparing for this anticipated increase, priority in developing countries should be to formulate breast cancer control strategies such as early breast cancer detection and early presentation for effective oncological treatment [15, 16] . The objective of this study is to find out patients’ related factors promoting early presentation and causal factor(s) of effective oncological treatment with the aim of reducing breast cancer related morbidity and mortality.

 

 

This is a cross-sectional hospital based study carried out at Wesley Guild Hospital (WGH) in Ilesa, between January 2007 and December 2013. Ilesa is a cosmopolitan town situated in Osun States in south western Nigeria. The town has good roads network connection and transport system, it health system is pluralist made up of orthodox and modern health facilities and the modern health facilities consist of private and government owned hospitals. WGH is one of the governments owned hospital and is a satellite hospital of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Eligibility for the study is being a breast cancer patient presenting at the surgical oncology unit of WGH consenting to recruitment and data collected to be used for research purpose. Inclusion criteria were: being domicile in Ilesha and malignant breast lesion. Exclusion criteria were: being domicile outside Ilesha, benign breast lesion and inability to provide adequate information because of karnofsky performance status. Data obtained were patients’ demographics, clinical and laboratory details of breast cancer burden using American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system and evolution of patient’s presentation to health care provider(s). Patients were subdivided into two groups whether they presenting primarily or secondarily for oncological treatment Data obtained were entered into the proforma designed for the study and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22. Descriptive statistics were employed for univariate analysis and, independent samples t test, nonparametric tests and regression analysis for multivariate analysis.

 

 

Forty-six patients met the inclusion criteria. They were all females; nine of these patients presented primarily in WGH while the remaining 37 presented secondarily for oncological treatment. Details of their demographic bio- characteristics are as shown in Figure 1 and Table 1. Patient first contact with health care provider distribution (Figure 2) reveals that 60.9% of the sum total of patients presented primarily either at herbal or private hospital. The mean presentation time in weeks for oncological treatment (Figure 3) was longest - 89 weeks - in patients from herbal home and the tumour burden was much advanced (Figure 4) in patients from herbal home and private hospitals. There is a significant difference in presentation time between those that presented primarily (M =11.56 ± 5.21 weeks) and those that presented secondarily (M = 52.56 ± 10.27weeks ) for oncological treatment: ( t = -3.56, df = 42.90, two tailed p = 0.001). There is also significant difference in tumour burden between those that presented primarily and those that presented secondarily (U = 78.5, p = 0.011). Table 2 shows care providers’ documentation of patients’ disease., None of the patients from herbal home and mission house had any documentation of their disease and only about half of patients from private hospitals had documentation. In multivariate analysis significant patients’ related factors promoting early presentation to their choice of health care provider (Table 3) are: their matrimonial setting, breast cancer awareness and mode of discovery of breast symptoms and, the significant determinant whether a breast cancer patient will have effective oncological treatment is their first healthcare provider (Table 4).

 

 

Presentation of breast cancer patients at advanced stage is a major contributor to increasing morbidity and mortality in the developing countries [14, 17]. Reviews from other developing countries (Table 5) highlight reasons for advanced stage presentation from various nations. The variations of causes from nation to nation may be related to their socio-cultural background [18, 19]; therefore, it is important to know the genesis of advanced stage presentation in our environment so as to incorporate this into future breast cancer campaign. Outcome of this study reveals that 19.6% of the patients presented directly in an institution where they had access to oncological treatment while the remaining 80.4% presented primarily at centres with limited resources for breast cancer management with significant difference in the disease burden and presentation time in the two categories of patients. Though, matrimonial setting, breast cancer awareness and mode of discovery of breast symptoms are prominent patients’ related factors promoting early presentation to their primary care giver; the relative importance these factors may be complex and interrelated. The role of matrimonial setting in the choice of care provider presentation may be related to family belief about breast cancer [20], treaty with a family doctor/spiritualist, and previous family experience of poor outcome of close relatives with breast cancer treated at modern health facility [21]. Though, it is commonly argued that the final health related decision rested with the patient but in African context it is a taboo for a woman to disobey her spouse or close relative even at the risk of her health. Therefore, campaigns directed at early breast cancer presentation should not only be aimed at patients but also at her family. Breast cancer awareness and mode of discovery of breast symptoms as determinants of care provider presentation reflect patient knowledge of the disease and the disease outcome [22]. Surprisingly, breast cancer patient’s level of education is not a determinant of her early presentation to a care provider in this study (Table 3); probably academic certification may not be synonymous with awareness of a disease and where to obtain appropriate treatment [23]. Thus literacy may not necessarily infer knowledge of a disease and this should be considered during breast cancer sensitization drives.

 

The result of this study shows the dominant role of health care provider at first patients’ contact as determinant of effective oncological treatment, though being tag qualified health care personnel is at the prerogative of the government who is the licensing body; unfortunately, 80.4% of the patients presented outside the setting where they can access oncological management. The care providers’ documentation of patients’ disease in Table 2 may be from misdiagnosis [24], lack of knowledge of the disease and available treatment options [25]. Additionally, it may be from poor judgement about the need for referral to the appropriate caregiver [26, 27]. Improvement in breast cancer outcome in our society can still be accomplished within the existing pluralist health care system through practical interventions that are realistic and efficient [17, 21]. The goal of future research will be to find out what implementation strategies can most effectively guide our pluralist health system reorganization to improve breast cancer outcome. In this regard, there is need for evaluation of appropriate certification and re -accreditation of health care institutions and their permissible scope of enterprise on breast cancer outcome and the effect of disease recognition training in oncology for caregivers operating herbal and convalescence homes on breast cancer presentation. Additionally, there is urgent need for upgrading existing government health care infrastructures and training of personnel in oncology to cope with oncological challenges of years to come.

 

 

Presentation of breast cancer patients outside the setting where they can access early and effective oncological treatment seems to forms the basis of advanced stage presentation. Matrimonial setting, breast cancer awareness and mode of discovery of breast symptoms are significant patients’ bio-characteristics that determine their choice of health care provider. These factors should be considered in community breast cancer sensitization drives. Additionally, non oncologist health care providers in our pluralist health system will need re-training in oncology and their scope of enterprise should be properly defined by appropriate government institution.

 

 

The authors declare no competing interest.

 

 

Akinbolaji Andrew AKINKUOLIE was involved in conceptualization, design, data acquisition, and literature search, definition of intellectual content, statistical analysis, preparation, editing and review of the manuscript. Amarachukwu Chiduziem ETONYEAKU participated in conceptualization, design, data acquisition, and literature search, definition of intellectual content, statistical analysis, preparation, editing and review of the manuscript. Olalekan OLASEHINDE took part in conceptualization, design, data acquisition, and literature search, definition of intellectual content, preparation, editing and review of the manuscript. Olukayode Adeolu AROWOLO played a part in data acquisition, and literature search, definition of intellectual content, preparation, editing and review of the manuscript. Rereloluwa Nicodemus BABALOLA contributed in data acquisition, and literature search, definition of intellectual content, preparation and editing of the manuscript. All the authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

 

 

Table 1: patients’ demographic bio-characteristics

Table 2: care providers’ documentation of patients’ disease

Table 3: determinants of patients’ early presentation to care providers

Table 4: determinants of effective oncological treatment

Table 5: reviews of presentation of breast cancer patients from developing countries

Figure 1: summary of enrolled patients

Figure 2: patient’s distribution at first care provider’s contact

Figure 3: patients’ first care providers and mean duration of symptoms before oncological treatment

Figure 4: distribution of patients’ AJCC staging at first oncological treatment

 

 

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