Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in Africa. Although the incidence of breast cancer in Africa is relatively low compared to the western societies, its morbidity is enormous and the mortality from it is disproportionately high. The risk factors for breast cancer in Africa are similar to those in other populations. As in those populations, genetic epidemiological studies have also identified high- and low-penetrance genetic alterations in African women with breast cancer. In the absence of screening programmes, breast cancer in Africa presents with palpable tumours, axillary node involvement and distant metastases. Although pathology services are available in many tertiary centres, regionalisation of services will improve access to advanced techniques like immunohistochemistry. The multimodality management of breast cancer is best provided by an interdisciplinary team of specialists in a designated breast oncology service. There is therefore an urgent need to develop care paradigms that take advantage of existing resources and utilise them in innovative ways to provide resource-level-appropriate cancer care. Training, personnel and infrastructure for multisite studies and clinical trials are sorely lacking, and these need to be developed to improve the outlook of breast cancer in Africa in the near future.