TITLE:
Breast Cancer Survival in Cameroon: Analysis of a Cohort of 404 Patients at the Yaoundé General Hospital
AUTHORS:
Jean Dupont Kemfang Ngowa, Jean Marie Kasia, Jean Yomi, Achille Nkigoum Nana, Anny Ngassam, Irenée Domkam, Zacharie Sando, Paul Ndom
KEYWORDS:
Survival, Breast Cancer, Developing Countries
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Breast Cancer Research,
Vol.4 No.2,
March
30,
2015
ABSTRACT: This
study aimed to estimate the survival rate of breast cancer in a group of
patients followed up at the Yaoundé General Hospital in Cameroon. A
retrospective review of records of patients managed for breast cancer between
1995 and 2007 was carried out at the Yaoundé General Hospital. Survival
analysis was carried out with survival defined as the time between the date of
unequivocal diagnosis of cancer and the date of last follow-up or death.
Survival curves were plotted in R.3.1.1
software. Mean age of the patients was 47.5 ± 12.36 years. Most of the patients
(67.9%) presented with advanced breast cancer disease (stage III and IV).
Overall patient survival rate was 30% at 5 years and 13.2% at 10 years. Median
overall survival time was 2 (1.9 - 3) years. There was a correlation between
survival and the stage of disease. The highest survival rates were recorded in
stages I and II while the lowest rates were recorded in stage IV. There was no
statistically significant difference in survival among the age groups (p = 0.15). Overall
survival rates of breast cancer are 30% at 5 years and 13.2% at 10 years among
Cameroonian patients and are lower compared with 90% and 82% respectively at 5 years
and 10 years in some developed countries.