title: Caring for patients with surgically resectable cancers: experience from a specialised centre in rural Rwanda.
abstract: METHODS
  Butaro Cancer Centre of Excellence (BCCOE), Burera District, Rwanda.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe characteristics, management and 6-month outcome of adult patients presenting with potentially surgically resectable cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study of patients presenting between 1 July and 31 December 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 278 patients, 76.6% were female, 51.4% were aged 50-74 years and 75% were referred from other district or tertiary hospitals in Rwanda. For the 250 patients with treatment details, 115 (46%) underwent surgery, with or without chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Median time from admission to surgery was 21 days (IQR 2-91). Breast cancer was the most common type of cancer treated at BCCOE, while other forms of cancer (cervical, colorectal and head and neck) were mainly operated on in tertiary facilities. Ninety-nine patients had no treatment; 52% of these were referred out within 6 months, primarily for palliative care. At 6 months, 6.8% had died or were lost to follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical care was provided for many cancer patients referred to BCCOE. However, challenges such as inadequate surgical infrastructure and skills, and patients presenting late with advanced and unresectable disease can limit the ability to manage all cases. This study highlights opportunities and challenges in cancer care relevant to other hospitals in rural settings.
authors.affiliation: Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Burera District, Rwanda.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mubiligi
authors.affiliation: Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Burera District, Rwanda ; Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hedt-Gauthier
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Butaro District Hospital, Butaro, Rwanda.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mpunga
authors.affiliation: Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Burera District, Rwanda ; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tapela
authors.affiliation: Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Burera District, Rwanda.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Okao
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France ; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Edginton
authors.affiliation: Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Burera District, Rwanda ; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Driscoll
authors.affiliation: Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Burera District, Rwanda.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mugabo
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riviello
authors.affiliation: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Shulman
keywords: Africa; operational research; rural care; solid cancers; surgery