Delay presentation of breast cancer: A study among south western Nigerian women

Delay presentation of breast cancer is most common form of presentation of breast cancer in our environment. This prospective study was done in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso, to determine extent, reasons and factors associated with delay presentation of breast cancer in south western Nigeria. A total of 120 consented patients were recruited into the study. The mean duration of symptom was 68 weeks (± 53.92). One hundred and three (85.83%) of our patients suffered delay presentation. Fourteen (82.35%) of 17 patients that present early claimed to have previous knowledge about breast diseases (p <0.001 O R 12.5 CI 3.338-46.8086). Fear of mastectomy and social stigmatization were the main reasons for delay presentation in 32 (31.06 %%) patients. Fifteen (83.23%) of early presenter perceived their first symptom to be serious as compared to 18 (17.47%) of 103 patients among late presenter (p<0.001, O R 34.41). All patients perceived bleeding and wound as serious symptoms and constituted 43.68% of reason for presentation among all the patients. Educational level, marital status and social class did not affect pattern of presentation Fear of mastectomy and social stigmatization were the main reasons for delay presentation couple with poor knowledge about breast diseases. A well channeled appropriate, information and education dispensing the myths about breast diseases and cancer will help reduce the burden of delay presentation in our women.