title: TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER: IMO STATE NIGERIA VERSUS INDIANA, USA WOMEN - COMPARATIVE ANALYTIC STUDY.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women with breast cancer undergo multimodal treatment for best outcome. This study seeks to identify the treatment challenges for such women in Imo State, Nigeria vis-à-vis similar women in Indiana USA. We compared the treatment modalities of both groups; noting predictors of compliance for subsequent action.
  
  
  METHODS
  Federal Medical Centre, Owerri; Imo State, Imo State University, Orlu, Nigeria and Indiana University Hospital, Indiana, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2000-2013, 100 randomly pulled charts of patients treated for pathologically confirmed breast cancer in Imo, Nigeria Federal Medical Centre Owerri, Imo State University Hospital; and Indiana University Hospital U.S. respectively were reviewed. The demographics, clinical and pathological data of the patients with confirmed breast cancer were obtained. The data were formatted and analyzed with SPSS version 16.0. The clinical features, management options, outcomes and specific features were compared for both groups using Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests (age, parity) and chi-square tests for all other variables. A 5% significance level was used for all tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred patients were included for each group. The mean/minimum ages; Imo, Nigeria 41.7/21 (SD/SE 15.3/1.5) vs. Indiana, U.S.56.4/29 (SD 12.4/SE 1.2) p<0.0001. Histology for Indiana USA women was predominantly ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) P<0.0001 while that of Imo, Nigeria was invasive ductal carcinoma inflammatory cancer P<0.0326. Women in both locations received chemotherapy and surgery. Imo women received less radiotherapy. Toxicity from chemotherapy remained constant features for both groups, P<0.0001. In Indiana USA, the 5year survival exceeded 85%; In Imo Nigeria it was 10%. This study showed that Women on both locations who were likely to be compliant were those receiving mastectomy; Imo, Nigeria 44(56%) <0.013 vs. Indiana, U.S. 74(80%) p<0.0186; women with cosmesis given; Imo, Nigeria 41(42%) vs. Indiana, U.S. 91 (94%) p<0.0001. Sample sizes were inadequate to perform multivariable models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multimodal treatment regimen implied that there was need for an algorithm protocol for breast cancer women. Thus the need to improve the quality of treatment particularly in Nigeria by improved treatment documentation to overcome key barriers involving information exchange.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri & Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Anele
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bowling
authors.affiliation: Biostastics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.affiliation: Library Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Elf
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Radiology Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kipfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauder
keywords: Breast cancer women; Compliance; Multimodality treatment