Prevalence of the known risk factors in women diagnosed with breast cancer at Queen II Hospital, Maseru

[摘要] English: Breast cancer is the leading cancer in the world among women, both in industrialised and developing countries. While the USA has the highest prevalence and mortality rates of the disease, with middle prevalence rates in Eastern Europe; Africa and Asia have low rates. In South Africa breast cancer is the most common cancer and is being diagnosed with increasing prevalence among the black population. No literature is, however, currently available regarding the prevalence of breast cancer, the prevalence of the risk factors for breast cancer, or the associated mortality rates for breast cancer in Lesotho. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the known risk factors for breast cancer among adult women who were diagnosed with the disease at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital, Maseru. A descriptive survey was conducted on 52 adult breast cancer patients seen at the Queen II hospital in Maseru, who gave informed consent. A trained researcher performed anthropometric measurements and administered a questionnaire on usual dietary intake and non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors for breast cancer, during structured interviews. Reliability was ensured by repeating the same questionnaire with 10% of the sample a month after conducting the main study. Regarding the non-modifiable risk factors for breast cancer, the majority of the Basotho women in this study were diagnosed with breast cancer at 46 years and older (78.7%), experienced menarche at 12 years and older, (93.9%), had reached natural menopause, did not use hormone replacement therapy, and had reached menopause before the age of 55 years (96.8%). Regarding the modifiable risk factors for breast cancer, the Basotho women had a low risk profile with low levels of education (80.8% had only primary or high school educations), low incomes (59.6%), low oral contraceptive use (65.4% had never used), and were mostly non-drinking (48.1%) and low-drinking (36.5%). Most were also, or had been, married at the time of the study (82.7%), had children (80.8%), and had breastfed for �?2 months (86.8%). However, these Basotho women were very inactive (82.6%), with high body mass indexes (21.1% overweight; 63.5% obese), waist circumferences, and waist to hip ratios putting them at high risk for breast cancer and other chronic diseases of lifestyle. Their self-reported median total energy and macronutrient intakes were 5414.5 kJ, 49g protein (0.63 g/kg/day), 210g carbohydrate, and 21.5g fat. Dietary intakes were evaluated according to the recommendations of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. Although they had low intakes of meat, particularly red meat, drank tea regularly, and used cooking methods that did not produce cancer promoting agents, all of which protect against breast cancer development; their low intakes of fruits, and low variety of plant foods put them at risk of breast cancer and other diseases due to low supply of protective antioxidants and phytochemicals. Particularly vegetables were mostly only consumed as green leafy types (moroho), while other vegetables were only consumed occasionally and by small percentages. This study is the first to report on the known risk factors of breast cancer among women in Lesotho. In summary, these Basotho patients were found to have a low risk profile for breast cancer with regard to non-modifiable risk factors, reproductive history and socio-demographic factors. The main risk factors for breast cancer were inactivity and obesity, combined with a diet low in variety of protective plant foods. Intervention programmes should thus focus on addressing these modifiable risk factors.

[发布机构] University of the Free State