The five-year survival rate of breast cancer at Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum, Sudan.

BACKGROUND

The Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum (RICK) is the largest public cancer centre in Sudan. The most common cancer in Sudan (and RICK) is breast cancer. The study aims to determine the five year survival of breast cancer as well as factors influencing this survivorship.

METHODS

This retrospective facility-based study was conducted on patients diagnosed as having breast cancer at RICK during the year 2013. At 305 patients, the population under study was totally covered. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival, and to further plot it against specific variables.

RESULTS

The five-year survival was found to be 79%. Lymph nodes were involved in 70.5% of the cases. The mean time between patients' first discovery of symptoms and diagnosis at RICK was 13.03 months. Presence of comorbid diabetes and hypertension significantly increased breast cancer mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast cancer in Sudan is characterized by younger age, delayed diagnosis and advanced staging at presentation, as well as lower five-year breast cancer survival in comparison to developed countries.