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Table 1 Characteristics and Clinical Management of all Patients treated for Breast Cancer.

From: Invasive breast Cancer treatment in Tanzania: landscape assessment to prepare for implementation of standardized treatment guidelines

Characteristic (n = 164)

Number (%)

Median age at presentation, range (n = 164)

50, 30–93 years

Referral (n = 164)a

 Yes

74 (45%)

 No

90 (55%)

Mwanza City Residence (n = 164)b

 Yes

34 (21%)

 No

130 (79%)

Insurance (n = 164)

 Yes

50 (30%)

 No

114 (70%)

Menopause Status (n = 164)

 Pre-menopausal

61 (37%)

 Post-menopausal

70 (43%)

 Not reported

33 (20%)

Breast Symptoms at Presentation (n = 164)

 Yes

164 (100%)

 No

0 (0%)

Clinically Positive Nodes Reported (n = 164)

 Suspected

23 (14%)

 Not suspectedc

141 (86%)

Suspected Distant Metastases (n = 164)

 Yes

26 (16%)

 No

138 (84%)

Surgery (n = 164)

 Yes

135 (82%)

 No

29 (18%)

Surgical Procedure (n = 135)

 Excision/Lumpectomy

25 (19%)

 Unilateral Mastectomy

88 (65%)

 Bilateral Mastectomy

4 (3%)

 Other/Unknown

18 (13%)

Axillary evaluation (n = 135)

 Yes

75 (56%)

 No

60 (44%)

Chemotherapy prescribed (n = 164)

 Yes

103 (63%)

 No

61 (37%)

Chemotherapy basis (n = 103)

 Proven histopathology

57 (56%)

 Symptoms

2 (2%)

 Other (imaging, FNAC, clinical suspicion)

43 (42%)

Chemotherapy Received (n = 103)

 Yes

81 (79%)

 No

22 (21%)

Hormone therapy (n = 164)

 Yes

63 (38%)

 No

101 (62%)

Basis for hormone therapy (n = 63)

 Proven receptor status

9 (15%)

 Clinical suspicion

54 (86%)

Radiation therapy (n = 164)

 Yes

5 (3%)

 No

197 (97%)

Adjuvant therapyd

 Yes

100 (61%)

 Chemotherapy

81 (81%)

 No

64 (39%)

  1. a Defined as referral slip present in chart or mention of referral in clinical notes, b Defined as residence in districts of Nyamagana and Ilemela. c Includes those with no documented clinical axillary exam recorded, d Includes chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy
  2. FNAC: fine needle aspiration cytology