A Prospective Study on Breast Cancer in Surgical Department of Port Moresby General Hospital, a Tertiary Care Hospital in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Abstract 22 Breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate amongst young women in developing countries. In Papua New Guinea, the incidence of breast cancer is the second highest after cervical cancer and is the top five cause of mortality due to cancer. A prospective audit was done to assess the changing trend of women who presents with breast lumps to the surgical clinic at the only tertiary (level 7) hospital in Papua New Guinea. The number of breast cancer has been shown to increase at a rate of 60% per year over the last eight (8) years. Infections, ulcers and benign breast lumps can mimic breast cancer on clinical presentation. However, more than half (about 59%) of breast cancers patients presents initially to the surgical clinic with breast lumps, and the commonest histological diagnosis is lobular carcinoma. Despite improvement in surgical care, most patients' outcomes are poor and often high mortality. The late clinical presentation, poor oncology and supporting care, high rate of treatment failures and defaulters are major causes of poor outcom es. There is a greater need for effective and efficient management of breast cancer patient at the tertiary health care centre in Papua New Guinea. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: No COIs from the authors.