Palliative Care Initiative for Cameroonian Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background and context: Among the 1.6 million women diagnosed with breast cancer each year worldwide, 1500 cases occur in Cameroonian women, 99% of which arise at advanced stage as there is no organized screening program in the country. Most of the women die because of lack of good diagnostic technique, lack of good treatment and medical insurance. 99% of Cameroonian women with breast cancer probably need palliative care and this is only well established in three medical centers. Most of these women are abandoned and will die in rural areas where they are managed by marabous and traditional healers. Our team has 22 years of experience in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and research in Cameroon. This year, SPARC METASTATIC BREAST CANCER CHALLENGE (SPARC MBC) is offering a unique opportunity to enhance our skills, particularly for women with metastatic breast cancer through this pilot initiative. Aim: To establish a pilot palliative care initiative for Cameroonian women with metastatic breast cancer and improve their quality of life. Strategy/Tactics: Using social media and an ambulatory patient care program, we plan to: 1) Establish a holistic palliative care pilot program; establish home visits and perform regular telephone calls to patients. 2) Introduce collaborations with traditional healers 3) Initiate training for health professionals. 4) Develop communication strategies for patients and provide them with psychosocial support. 5) Implement strategies for the provision of pain relieve drugs such as morphine. Program/Policy process: Advocacy visits to communities, hospitals and universities; training of community health professionals, social workers and traditional healers; and mobilization of breast cancers patients. Outcomes: It is expected that through this project, we will improve number of breast cancers detected, increase accessibility to treatment and palliative care for women diagnosed with breast cancer, reduce progression to advanced stages and mortality due to breast cancer, improve treatment outcome particularly among women with advanced stages of breast cancer, trained health professionals on palliative care and breast cancer control. What was learned: SPARC MBC is now offering a unique opportunity for Cameroonian women. We have started a sustainable palliative care program. Health professionals and social workers are now following training, mostly using social media for long distance training, or onsite in our institution. Unfortunately, we overadvertised during the first phase of this program and we are afraid we may not be able to cover the whole country and this may be discriminating or frustrating for some patients. On the other hand, some patients are now coming to our center from some neighboring countries with other cancer subtypes like prostate, cervix, liver, etc. as advertisement with WhatsApp and other social media is widespread and we are afraid we will be unable to cover this epidemic.