Clinical and pathological features of breast cancers in Rivers State, Nigeria.

In this study, the clinico-pathological features of breast cancers seen in Rivers State of Nigeria were retrospectively analysed. Nine out of 67 patients (13%) were younger than 30 years of age. Only 13% of 46 patients presented within one month of the onset of symptoms. The mean duration of symptoms varied from 3.7 months in patients under 30 years of age to 13.3 months in those in the 50-59 years age range. Most patients, 40 out of 51, presented with axillary lymph node metastases, the incidence of which varied directly with both the duration of symptoms and age. It is suggested that the rise in the incidence of axillary lymph node metastasis with age is determined by increase in the duration of symptoms. These results highlight the need to intensify cancer education in the population. The presenting complaints and the distribution of the various histological types did not differ from other reports.