Beliefs and practices associated with late presentation in patients with breast cancer; an observational study of patient presenting in a tertiary care facility in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background The incidence rate of breast cancer (BC) in the high income countries (HIC) is higher than in low income countries (LIC) and middle income countries (MIC), but the overall mortality rate is much less than in LIC and MIC. Most cases of BC in HIC present early as a result of established screening programs which detects the disease at curable stage. In most LIC and MIC like Nigeria, most cases of BC present late coupled with dearth of personnel, equipment and drugs required with resultant effect of poor survival and high mortality rate associated with BC. Overwhelming studies have identified late presentation as a major cause of poor outcome of BC management in our country; however there are few studies about why the BC patients present late.