title: Tumor size and stage of breast cancer in Côte d'Ivoire and Republic of Congo - Results from population-based cancer registries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breast cancer is now the leading female cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, but there is relatively little information on breast cancer characteristics from this region. We studied, on a population basis, the size and stage of female breast cancer at diagnosis in Côte d'Ivoire and Republic of Congo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on tumor size and stage of breast cancer at diagnosis were collected by population-based cancer registries in Abidjan (the capital of Côte d'Ivoire; 141 cases) and Brazzaville (the capital of Republic of Congo; 139 cases) from a random group of female breast cancer cases that were diagnosed in 2008-2009 using the same protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of breast cancers in both countries were advanced cancers. In Côte d'Ivoire, 68% of tumors were ≥5 cm in diameter and 74% of cancers were stage III or IV at diagnosis; the corresponding proportions in Republic of Congo were 63% and 81%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results underscore the importance of increased awareness about early detection of breast cancer, as well as expansion of the capacity to provide appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care in sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Islami
authors.affiliation: Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Joannie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lortet-Tieulent
authors.affiliation: African Cancer Registry Network, INCTR African Registry Programme, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okello
authors.affiliation: Service de Cancérologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Treichville, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Innocent
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adoubi
authors.affiliation: Service de Carcinologie et Radiothérapie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Congo.
authors.forename: Charles Gombé
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mbalawa
authors.affiliation: Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: African Cancer Registry Network, INCTR African Registry Programme, Oxford, United Kingdom; Clinical Trials Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit, Nuffield Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. Electronic address: max.parkin@ctsu.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: D Maxwell
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.affiliation: Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Ahmedin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jemal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003223:Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012042:Registries; D047368:Tumor Burden
keywords: Africa; Breast cancer; Cancer registry; Congo, Republic of; Côte d'Ivoire; Stage