BREAST-CANCER AND CONSERVATIVE SURGERY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

This study investigated the profile of breast cancer patients in Tanza nia during 1974-87 period, The results were compared with those of Afr ican patients in countries south of the Sahara. The maximum number of patients with breast cancer were seen in the sexually active age group s, In Sudan breast cancer was in leading position amongst all female c ancers but with a lower proportion of women below 30 years, 6.4% (95% CI 5.3-7.6); x(2) = 7.3 (p=0.006), While in other sub-Saharan countrie s the disease ranked second to cervical cancer in frequency, but with a high proportion of patients below 30 years of age. This proportion w as highest in Nigeria when compared with other African countries studi ed 14.7% (95% CI 8.9-22.3); x(2) = 3.9 (p = 0.04). Mastectomy continue s to be the treatment of choice for breast cancer in the sub Saharan c ountries despite the fact that this procedure is resented, Also that t he Halstedian principle which governed the treatment of the disease fo r a century now has been disputed regarding its usefulness. The biolog ical basis for adopting conservative surgery for breast cancer, the ne ed for early detection and the oncogenesis of the disease are discusse d.