Locally advanced breast cancer in Eastern European developing countries

Abstract

AIM: Breast cancer is known as the most frequent cancer type among women. In several developing countries advanced stage cases present an increase trend, despite the global provisions of screening for early detection. The aim was to investigate patients with locally advanced breast cancers, in a developing country from eastern Europe.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed, including patients diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent surgical intervention, during 2007-2017. Besides demographic data, surgical techniques were investigated.

Within histopathological data tumor size, type and grade were examined. We also investigated lymph node status and patient’s hormonal parameters.

RESULTS: We examined 1008 patients diagnosed with benign and malignant mammary gland tumors over 11 years.

After excluding benign tumors, inflammatory cancers, biopsies, recurrent breast cancers and initial stages, 125 patients remained eligible. Exulceration and hemorrhage were observed in 64 (51.2%) locally advanced cases. Resection of the pectoralis major muscle was realized in 12.8% due to tumoral infiltration.

DISCUSSION: Locally advanced breast cancer represents approximately 5% in developed countries. Within our results, this rate was 27.9%. This discrepancy is given by the regular national mammary screening programs within several developed countries.

CONCLUSIONS: In the developing countries locally advanced breast cancer presents a continuous increase and hemorrhagic exulcerated types are not uncommon. Due to the poor health education and sometimes inadequate health care in eastern Europe, just a few patients have benefited of neoadjuvant therapy and preoperative mammography was performed in a small number of patients.