Breast Cancer in Young Nigerian Women

Breast cancer is rare in young women aged 30 and below. Out of a total of 374 patients admitted and managed for breast cancer in a period of 12 years, 14 (3.74%) were aged 30 and below (mean 26.31 years); Their parity ranged between 0 and 4 (mean 1.5) and the duration of symptoms before presentation ranged between 3 weeks and 3 years. 6 cases involved the right breast, 4 the left and 3 were bilateral. All the patients presented with advanced breast cancer (stage 4 disease). Ten had invasive ductal Ca while one each had lobular carcinoma, lymphoma and malignant phyllodes tumour respectively. Management was multimodal: neovadjuvant chemotherapy, tamoxifen, mastectomy and referral for radiotherapy. Two developed features of depressive illness in the course of treatment; 6 died within 6 months of presentation, 1 after 3 months, 1 refused mastectomy discharged herself against in favour of traditional healers. The remaining 6 were lost to follow-up. It is confirmed that as else where, in Nigerians breast cancer in younger women is associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality as well as physical and emotional stress. Keywords: Young women, breast cancer, Nigeria.Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 17 (2) 2007: pp. 86-9

An Audit Of Surgery Related Deaths In An Urban Nigerian Teaching Hospital

An audit of surgery related deaths was carried out to determine the most common causes of such death. A total of 338 deaths (205 males and 133 females – 3.3:2) were recorded in the Department of Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria over a five-year period (September 1, 1996 to August 31, 2001). Cancer as an entity accounted for the highest number of deaths (104 or 30.8%); the commonest being those of the colorectum, stomach, pancreas and prostate. Other significant causes of surgery related deaths were burn injury (64 or 13.3%) and intestinal obstruction (22 or 9.5%). Complications from head injury singularly accounted for 33 (9. 8%) of deaths, following road traffic accidents. Most of the deaths from intestinal obstruction were post-operative following laparotomy, resection of gangrenous bowel and anastomosis with neonatal intestinal obstruction accounting for 15 (68%) of the deaths. The other less common causes of death as well as those where diagnosis could not be reached due to lack of postmortem were classified as miscellaneous (47 or 19.8%). Provision of facilities for early detection of cancer as well as enforcing the use of seatbelts and crash-helmets will help in reducing the number of deaths from cancer and road traffic accidents respectively. Trainee surgeons should be exposed to the management of burns while timely intervention especially in neonates will help to reduce the mortality associated with intestinal obstruction. Keywords: Audit, Surgery related deaths, Benin City, Nigeria Annals of Biomedical Science Vol. 2 (1) 2003: pp. 47-5

Factors associated with delay in presentation of breast cancer in Benin

Background: Late presentation accounts for the high morbidity and mortality associated with breast cancer. Aim: To determine the factors associated with late presentation of breast cancer in our environment. Setting: The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: In this prospective study, questionnaires were administered to 103 consecutive patients with breast cancer over a 5-year period (April 1999-March 2004). Information obtained included duration of symptoms, marital status, level of education and degree of knowledge of breast cancer. Others included consultation of tradomedical practitioners/spiritualists and the availability of medical personnel/facility in the areas of domicile of the patients. Results: A total of 77 (74.8%) patients presented with late breast cancer. Only 3 (2.9%) presented within 4 weeks of onset of symptoms (median 38 weeks). Late presentation was identified in 45 of 51 unmarried patients (88.3%) and in 32 of 52 married patients (61.5%). None of 15 illiterate, 1 of 22 secondary and 2 of 8 tertiary educated patients presented within 4 weeks of onset of symptoms. Whereas 90% of patients had accessible health care, 18 (7.5%) and 52 (50.5%) still patronized traditional healers and spiritual-miracle working homes respectively. None was deterred by fear of surgery while 7 were delayed by the primary physician. Conclusion: Sustained massive public enlightenment campaign and continuing medical education for health practitioners are necessary for the achievement of early presentation of breast cancer. Keywords: Factors, Delayed presentation, Breast cancerPHMJ Vol. 2 (2) 2008: pp. 97-10

Perceptions about tissue donation for medical research among patients in a tertiary hospital in South South,Nigeria

Background: Tissue banking refers to a structured and organized resource collection of tissue. Recent advances in research technology and knowledge in the fields of human genetics/ genomics highlights the need to maintain a steady supply of tissue for researchers.Objective: To assess the perception and willingness of patients to donate tissue for research.Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted among 250 patients in University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Data was obtained using interviewer administered questionnaires. Stratified sampling method was used to recruit respondents and data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0. Level of significance was set at p<0.05.Results: The findings showed that most patients were positively disposed towards tissue research as majority (75.6%) believed the use of tissue for research was justified and more than two-thirds (73.2%) were willing to donate tissue for research as exemplified by willingness to donate blood, 70.8% would permit storage of extra tissue obtained from surgery, and 82.8% would accept treatment based on tissue research. However, more than half (54%)\ were unwilling to permit the use of tissue from a dead relative for research. This buttresses the roles that traditional beliefs play in determining attitudes and perceptions.Conclusion: There was willingness among the respondents to donate tissue for research. However, regular health education is required to sustain this positive attitude.Key words: Tissue donation, Medical research, Patients