Clinical profile of Ethiopian patients with breast cancer

This prospective study was designed to obtain information on demographic characteristics, clinical profile and problems related to early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in 72 Ethiopian patients. There were 62 females and 10 males, the female to male ratio being 6.2:1. The age range of the females was 21-82 (mean 41.8 +/- 12.8) years and that of the males' was 38-75 (mean 52.1 +/- 12.2) years. The time interval between the onset of breast-related symptoms to diagnosis varied from 2-108 (median 12) months. Infiltrating ductal and lobular carcinoma histologic types accounted for 85% and 11%, respectively, in 62 cases who had surgical biopsies. Surgery was performed in 46 cases out of whom only 21 cases received adjuvant treatment. Eighteen females refused mastectomy at some point before they came to our clinic with metastatic disease. After a median follow up duration of 36 (range 2-120) months, 29 cases were alive, 24 died and 19 were lost to follow up. The cause of death in 17 subjects (71%) was rapidly refilling pleural effusion and superimposed infection. Both females and males had similar clinical characteristics, except that, the males were older by 10 years. Moreover, the females in this series developed breast cancer at a younger age (72% were premenopausal) and 76% had advanced disease (Stages III and IV) at presentation, similar to females from other African countries. We suggest that the attitude of Ethiopian females towards breast cancer has to change through continuous but targeted public education.