A Study on Acceptance of Mastectomy among Patients Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Tertiary Hospital in Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: This study was aimed at ascertaining the acceptance of mastectomy among patients who had breast cancer in a tertiary health facility in Port Harcourt over a 3 year period. Background: The pattern of presentation of breast cancer among Nigerian women is that of prolonged delay, symptomatic breast cancer, advanced breast cancer and poor long-term survival. Seventy percent of cases of breast cancer present in advanced stage. Materials and Methods: The reasons for delayed hospital presentation among patients with breast cancer was assessed using a hospital-based longitudinal study. Data were obtained using a structured proforma. Retrieved data were entered into Microsoft Excel and exported to United States CDC Epi- Info version 7 for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 61 patients counselled for mastectomy, 11 (18%) declined while 50 (82%) accepted. 35 patients with late breast cancer accepted mastectomy while 7patients in the same category did not. Among patients who accepted mastectomy, 15 (30%) were early while 35 (70%) were late breast cancer. Conclusion: The relatively high acceptance of mastectomy seen in this study is tied to patients presenting in late stage of breast cancer. More work is required to improve acceptance of the procedure at early stages of the disease.