Characteristics of Patients with Breast Cancer Attending the Breast Cancer Center in Sudan

Full Length Research Article

Characteristics of Patients with Breast Cancer Attending the Breast Cancer Center in Sudan

Mohamed Osman Elamin Bushara

Adv. life sci., vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 603-606, December 2022
*Corresponding Author: Mohamed Osman Elamin Bushara (Email: Mohsm71@yahoo.com)
Authors' Affiliations

 Faculty of Public Health & Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University – Saudi Arabia 
 
[Date Received: 12/10/2022; Date Revised: 05/12/2022; Date Published: 31/12/2022]


Abstractaa download_button
Introduction
Methods
Results

Discussion
References 


Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is one of major health problems worldwide with increasing prevalence and accounts for comprising 16 percent of all female cancers. Objective of this study is investigated about the characteristics of patients with breast cancer attending the breast cancer center in Sudan to understand reasons for late diagnosis.

Methods: Cross sectional descriptive study conducted; 200 women attending at the oncology center of the capital city participated.

Results: Breast cancer was more prevalent among the age group of (31-40) with percentage of (39%), the reproductive characteristics of them indicated that (30%) did not have children, while 29% had more than two children, (46.5%) had menarche at age of (<11 year), (67.5%) were at Pre-menopause status, while (32.5%) were at post-menopause (48%)  of earned income  between (0-1000SDG) per month, reflecting the low-socio-economic status of them, as they did not have enough income for proper diagnosis  and  treatment, while the service is not free, concerning body weight, (31%) was overweight (25 -29.9 Kg/ m²), while (4.5%) of them had morbid obesity(≥ 40 Kg/m²).The results also showed that(71%) took vitamin as a supplement.

Conclusion: The study concluded that the cost of service and lack of awareness hindered early detection among low socio-economic status patients.          

Keywords: Prevalence; Risk factors; Breast cancer      

Introduction6th button-01


Cancer considered as a major reason of mortality globally. Approximately 12.7 million new cancer cases registered in 2009, In about 715,000 patients this was leading to 542,000 deaths in Africa [1,2].

These cases maybe doubled to 1.28 million discovered, and 970,000 deaths in year 2030. This development in the cases in Africa can be due for both older ages increase and normal increase of number of people, unhealthy lifestyles also correlated with cases increasing such drug abuse, fast foods, and a lack of physical activity [3].

To study about the factors that lead to late diagnosis among Sudanese women attending Oncology center for breast cancer in Khartoum, Sudan.

To identify characteristics of patients and the risk factors in Sudanese woman attending oncology center of the capital Khartoum.

Methods6th button-01


Study design

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Study area

Capital center for oncology and breast cancer

Study population

All females who were attending in Khartoum oncology center during research period.

Sample size

Sample taken by total coverage of patients; the number of patients was (N=200).

Methods of data collection

Primary sources: Data was collected using questionnaires to gather information about the female patients' socio-demographic data, anthropometric measures (Body mass index) and risk factors that contributed to the breast cancer.

Secondary sources

The secondary data collected from different references, internet, and relevant research and studies.              

Method of data analysis

The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) with the version (20).

Ethical consideration

1-The approval was taken from the Ministry of Health IRB number (112.03.2021).

2-Approval was taken   also from the Oncology center for breast cancer.

3-Research purpose and objectives were explained to female patients in clear simple words.

Results6th button-01


Table 1 shows that 39% of female patients in the age group of (31-40) and (13%) of them at the age group of (20-30) year old.

Table 2 reveals that (57.5%) female patients detected breast cancer a month ago, 57.5% had detected breast cancer between month and one year and only (10%) of them had detected breast cancer for more than one year. Showing problem of late detection.

Table 3 reveals that (48%) of female patients had low incomes, while (16.5%) had high income.

Table 4 reveals that (51.5%) of female patients did not breastfeed and (12%) breastfed their children for more than one year.

Table 5 reveals that (51.5%) of female patients did not breastfeed and (12%) breastfed their children for more than one year. Demonstrates that (67.5%) of the female patients were in Pre-menopause stage while (32.5%) were on menopause stage.

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Table 6 demonstrates that (67.5%) of the female patients were in Pre-menopause stage while (32.5%) were on menopause stage.

Table 7 shows that (50.5%) of female patients had irregular menstrual cycle while (49.5%) did not have regular menstrual cycle.

Table 8 demonstrates that (31%) of the female patients were overweight While (4.5%) of them had morbid obesity (≥ 40 Kg/m²).Table 10 demonstrates that (57.5%) of the female patients used Hormone replacement therapy while (42.5%) of them did not use it.

Figure 4 shows that (71%) of female patients took vitamins/supplement while (29%) of them did not take vitamin as the supplement. Reveals that (53.5%) of female patients did not take traditional medicine and (46.5%) of them took traditional medicines.

Table 11 shows that (60.5%) of the female patients were not smokers and (39.5%) of them Smokers. Table 12 reveals that (51.5%) of female patients did not have previous breast biopsy and (48.5%) of them had previous breast biopsy.

 

Figures & Tables

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Discussion6th button-01


Research was designed to investigate about the characteristics of patients with breast cancer attending the breast cancer center in Sudan to understand factors that lead to late diagnosis among Sudanese women.  The results demonstrated  that  the  prevalence of breast cancer  was (39%) among the age group  of 31-40. Pervious study found that breast cancer was common at the age of ≥20, and the incidence increasing rapidly between the age of 35 & 50 [1]. Regarding educational level, (24%) of female patients had secondary school education while (13%) had post university education level. Education can contribute to the patients’ awareness.

Study showed that almost half of the female patients (48%) earned   income between (0-1000SDG),this reflects the poor socio-economic status of them, as they did not have enough income for proper diagnosis and treatment [1].

Regarding the reproductive characteristics of the patients, the result indicated that, (30%) of the female didn’t have children, while 20.5% had one to two children, previous study revealed that having many children were related to risk of breast cancer [2].

The present study showed that (71%) took vitamin as a supplement while (21%) did not take it A significant reduction of vitamin supplement that used as therapy may accelerate the spreading of breast cancer [2].

The results clarified that (46.5%) of the female patients had menarche at age of (<11 year), has been mentioned in the literature early menarche can be considered as a risk factor of breast cancer [3].

The present study showed (67.5%) of the female patients were at Pre-menopause status, while (32.5%) were in post-menopause. Previous studies revealed that pre-menopausal women, who tended to have irregular menstrual cycles and greater tendencies for an ovulatory cycle, may increase the risk of breast cancer [3].

It was clarified that (31%) of the female patients were overweight (25 -29.9 Kg/ m²), while (4.5%) of them had morbid obesity (≥ 40 Kg/m²). However, the relationship between that and breast cancer is complicated [4]. The study revealed that, (60%) of female patients consumed a low fat diet and (40%) of them did not consume a low fat diet. Eating a high-fat diet may also play a role in causing breast cancer. Breast cancer is less common in countries where the typical diet is plant-based and low in total fat [5].

Regarding smoking, (60.5%) of the female patients were not smokers and (39.5%) were smokers. Previous study revealed that liquid found in breast ducts of female patients’ smokers contains high chemical substance as the result of smoking (e.g., Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are linked to breast cancer). However heavy smoking cigarettes for many years, especially if individual started smoking at young age will increase the risk of breast cancer [6].

Risk factors of breast cancer more prevalent among the age group of 31-40 years, with low socio economic status in Sudan, this factor leads to late diagnosis because the service is not for free, in addition to other factors including general economic situation of the country, lack of awareness raising programs, the service is not distributed in all states of the country and not enough even in the capital itself [7].

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Conflict of Interest


The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

References


  1. Akarolo-Anthony SN, Ogundiran TO, Adebamowo CA. Emerging breast cancer epidemic: evidence from Africa. Breast Cancer Research, (2010); 12(Suppl 4):S8.
  2. Awadelkarim KD, Mariani-Costantini R, Elwsali NE. Cancer in the Sudan: an overview of the current status of knowledge on tumor patterns and risk factors. Science of the Total Environment, (2012); 423: 214-28
  3. Boyle P, Levin B. World cancer report (2008). Lyon, France: IARC Press, International Agency for Research on Cancer.
  4. Boris P. Cancer Genetics (Cancer Treatment and Research). Berlin: Springer, (2010); pp. 19–20. ISBN 1-4419-6032-5.
  5. Coughlin S, Ekwueme D. Breast cancer as a global health concern’, Cancer Epidemiology, (2009); 33: 315-318.
  6. Doumi B, Ahmed, A. Cancer in Children in El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan. Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences, (2009); 4 (4): 347-350.
  7. Elebead F, Hamid A, Hilmi H, Galal H. Mapping cancer disease using geographical information system (GIS) in Gezira State-Sudan. Journal of Community Health, (2012); 37(4): 830-9.

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