Postsurgical management of patients with breast cancer at Kenyatta National Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To assess post-surgical management of patients with breast cancer at the Kenyatta National Hospital.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of patients treated for breast carcinoma at Kenyatta National Hospital between January 1989 and January 2000.


METHODS
Kenyatta National Hospital.


METHODS
Three hundred and seventy-four patients who had surgery or biopsy for breast cancer at the Kenyatta National Hospital.


METHODS
Chemo-hormonal therapy and/or radiotherapy for adjuvant, metastatic, or palliative purposes.


RESULTS
Twenty-two patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, and 21 patients received chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Forty-six patients received adjuvant radiotherapy and 53 had radiotherapy for palliative purposes. One hundred and twenty-six patients were given tamoxifen for adjuvant and metastatic purposes. The median duration of follow-up was 20 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy is grossly underutilized in the treatment of breast cancer at the Kenyatta National Hospital, and radiotherapy is also underutilized. Follow-up durations are dismal and if this is used as a surrogate measure for survival then survival durations for breast cancer patients are also dismal at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Othieno-Abinya
N A
NA
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Nyabola
L O
LO
Abwao
H O
HO
Ndege
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*