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Locally advanced breast cancer in Eastern European developing countries
Annali Italiani Di Chirurgia
|October 5, 2023
Summary
Locally advanced breast cancer is significantly more common in Eastern Europe than in developed nations, with over a quarter of cases presenting at advanced stages. This highlights disparities in screening and healthcare access for breast cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women globally.
- Developing countries often see an increasing trend in advanced-stage breast cancer, despite global screening efforts.
- Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) rates are significantly higher in Eastern Europe compared to developed nations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of patients diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer in a developing country in Eastern Europe.
- To analyze demographic, surgical, histopathological, and hormonal parameters in LABC patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study included 125 eligible patients diagnosed with LABC between 2007 and 2017.
- Data collected included patient demographics, surgical techniques, tumor size, type, grade, lymph node status, and hormonal parameters.
- Exclusion criteria included benign tumors, inflammatory cancers, biopsies, recurrent cancers, and initial-stage cancers.
Main Results:
- Out of 1008 patients, 125 met the criteria for LABC.
- Hemorrhagic and exulcerated tumors were observed in 51.2% of LABC cases.
- Pectoralis major muscle resection was necessary in 12.8% of cases due to tumor infiltration.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of LABC in this Eastern European cohort was 27.9%, significantly higher than the 5% observed in developed countries.
- Disparities in LABC rates are attributed to the lack of regular national screening programs.
- Poor health education and inadequate healthcare in Eastern Europe limit access to neoadjuvant therapy and preoperative mammography for LABC patients.
