Ten-year Retrospective Study of Breast Cancer Presentation: Insights from a Nigerian Tertiary Palliative Care Center

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women globally and a leading cause of cancer-related death. In Nigeria, late-stage presentation of breast cancer is common due to poor health-seeking behavior and limited access to treatment. This retrospective study aims to assess the patterns of breast cancer presentation over a ten-year period at the Hospice and Palliative Care Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methodology: This retrospective analysis included 316 breast cancer patients who presented at the department between January 2012 and January 2021. Data were retrieved from hospital records and included patient demographics, tumor localization, metastatic sites, presenting symptoms, and outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and findings were analyzed using SPSS.

Results: Of the 1,494 cancer patients seen during the study period, 316 (21%) had breast cancer. The peak incidence occurred in 2016 (28.2%) and 2020 (26.6%), with the lowest in 2017 (16.8%). The average age of diagnosis was 49 years. Tumor localization was evenly distributed between the right (43%) and left (43%) breasts, with 13% presenting with bilateral involvement. Metastatic spread was most common to the lungs/pleura (40%), liver (19%), and brain/CNS (13%). Common presenting symptoms included fatigue, weight loss, breathlessness, pain, and anorexia. Regarding parity, 43.7% of patients had more than four pregnancies, indicating a significant correlation between higher parity and breast cancer incidence in the study population.

Conclusion: The persistent trend of late-stage breast cancer diagnosis in Nigeria necessitates urgent action to enhance early detection and comprehensive palliative care. Community-based education, improved healthcare access, and targeted research are essential to address the challenges and improve outcomes for breast cancer patients in Nigeria. The study provides valuable insights for clinicians and policymakers to develop effective interventions and health policies.