Uptake of the BI-RADS Ultrasound Characterization of Breast Masses: Perceptions among Staff at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda.
Breast cancer is the third commonest cancer in women in Uganda after Kaposi’s sarcoma and cervical cancer. Five year survival rate is 56%. Several studies have reported that breast cancer is the most common cancer that compromises patient safety and resulting in cancer deaths in women thus remaining a world concern.
For example in Brazil, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Among Turkish women, breast cancer represents 24.1% of all cancers and is the second prime cause of cancer-related deaths.
It has been reported that by 2020, 70% of the 15 million new annual cancer cases will be in developing countries. In South
Africa breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.
The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 26-women across all population groups. Annually more than 3000-women die from breast cancer in South Africa. More than 60% of women present with locally advanced breast cancer.
It has been speculated that the lack of an early cancer detection program is responsible for the majority of women presenting at a late, symptomatic stage when cure is impossible.
Primary randomized controlled trials have shown the significance of mammography in the early diagnosis of breast cancer
in asymptomatic women and it has been effective in decreasing mortality especially in women aged 50-69-years with reductions of 20% to 35%. However, for the women who know about mammography, the costs involved are still very high which prevents them from going for it.
Radiol Open J. 2019; 4(1): 1-6. doi: 10.17140/ROJ-4-123
