Current Issue : April - June Volume : 2021 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
Introduction: Breast cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage in Cameroon. The objective was to analyse consultation, diagnosis and treatment delays for breast cancer among patients followed up at the Yaoundé General Hospital (YGH) in Cameroon. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out from the files of patients followed up for breast cancer at the YGH from January 1, 2014 to April 30, 2018. A total of 183 patients were included. We measured time elapsed between the awareness of first signs of disease and the initial consultation (consultation delays), time lapse between the initial consultation and pathological diagnosis of breast cancer (diagnosis delays), interval between pathological diagnosis and treatment onset (treatment delays), time elapsed between the initial consultation and management (health system delays) and time elapsed from awareness of first signs of disease to treatment onset (overall delays). Results: The delays (median, IIQ) were: (5.1 months; IIQ: 1.7 - 12.4), (25 days; IIQ: 10 - 67), (27 days; IIQ: 13 - 63), (2.2 months; IIQ: 1.2 - 5.8) and (9.9 months; IIQ: 4.4 - 17.6) respectively for consultation, diagnosis, treatment, health system and overall delays. The risks associated with a delay in initial consultation of greater than 3 months were (OR; 95% CI): unschooled patients (2.01; 1.66 - 2.40); monthly income below the minimum wage (2.70; 1.81 - 5.96); unemployment (2.14; 1.02 - 3.24) and absence of a family history of cancer (2.44; 1.66 - 6.10). The main reasons for a late first consultation were: ignorance (60.2%), financial challenges (17.6%) and a preference for alternative treatment (11.1%). Conclusion: The consultation, diagnosis and treatment delays for breast cancer are very often long in our setting than those reported in developed countries. Both patients’ and institutional factors are demonstrated. There is a need to increase public awareness on the value of early diagnosis of breast cancer. Also, health system should be improved to enable early diagnosis and treatment of this affection....
Neuroendocrine tumors are a rare and aggressive histological variant of the cervix, and they have several differences compared to other types of cervical cancer, in prognosis, diagnosis and treatment. In this paper we report the case of a 39-year-old patient that was taken care of in the medical oncology department at the Hassan II University Hospital Center, for an advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix with a Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule. The aim of this work is to highlight this rare location of neuroendocrine tumors and their very aggressive character; by describing the different clinical, radiological and anatomopathological aspects of the primary tumor as well as umbilical metastasis....
Background: Penile metastasis of colorectal carcinoma is a rare phenomenon in clinical setting. They normally manifest as penile lesion and acute urinary retention. However, presentation of priapism is exceedingly rare. Aims: Discussion of this rare presentation as well as the diagnostic processes and subsequent management. Case Presentation: A 54-year-old male with a history of colorectal cancer presents with acute urinary retention. Examination of the patient demonstrates a semi-erect penis, with multiple palpable nodules on the shaft and penile meatus. Histological and imaging findings indicate penile metastasis of colorectal cancer. Conclusion: Biopsy via cystoscopy is used to obtain definitive diagnosis of penile metastasis. Urinary drainage followed by further cancer intervention or palliative care is crucial for effective management....
Background: Ovarian cancer accounts for 4% of cancers occurring in women and ranks first in gynecological cancer mortality. Maintaining and improving quality of life is an important goal of cancer treatment. The toxicities of cancer treatment particularly chemotherapy can impact an individual’s wellbeing. Objective: Assessment of quality of life among ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Method: A descriptive study was conducted among 202 patients with ovarian cancer treated at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital in Bangladesh. Ethical approval was received from the ethics committee of NICRH. Data was collected using the EORTC QLQC30 questionnaire and the ovarian cancer specific EORTC QOL OV-28 module. Functional, symptomatic and global variables were scored and analyzed by SPSS. Multiple linear regressions determined the effects of predictor variables and correlation of the global health status with other variables. Results: 48.6% of patients were ages 41 to 50 years. The mean score of global health status was 55.77. Deteriorating emotional function, distressing physical and psychological symptoms, sexual dysfunction and financial difficulties adversely affect the quality of life. Their correlation with global health status was strongly significant (P value < 0.05). Fatigue (r value −0.604; p < 0.05) loss of appetite (r value −0.442; p < 0.05), insomnia (r value −0.339; p < 0.05), dyspnea (r value −0.377; p < 0.05), heartburn (r value −0.369; p < 0.05), and alopecia (r value −0.262; p < 0.05) were negatively associated with QOL. Conclusion: The overall quality of life among the ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is low. Increasing knowledge in this area will help clinicians to optimize patient management. Interventions should focus on both physical and psychological and sexual health issues that adversely affect the quality of life....
Teratoid rhabdoid tumors are highly malignant, rare and aggressive. The prognosis is very poor, with a pejorative and rapidly lethal evolution. The objective of this study was to show diagnostic and therapeutic approach through the report of four observations of rhabdoid tumor of the kidney in children, treated in the oncology unit at the pediatric department CHU Hassan II Fez Morocco, collected over a period of 10 years. The ages of the patients varied from 8 months and 5 and a half, with 3 girls and a boy. All children have abdominal distention with the discovery of a mass on clinical examination. The patients were treated as nephroblastoma by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by enlarged total nephrectomy. The pathological study confirmed the diagnosis of a teratoid rhabdoid tumor. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given in all four children combined with radiotherapy in three cases. The evolution was fatal in three children. Malignant rhabdoid tumors are a particular pathological entity requiring a well codified therapeutic protocol to improve survival which does not exceed 15% to 20%....
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