Abrar Ashraf Ali, Khawaja Muhammad Azim, Hasnat Ahmad Butt, Junaid Hassan, Amenah Malik, Abeer Qadir, Amal Ashraf, Abdul Majeed Chaudhary.
Carcinoma Breast: A dilemma for our society.
Ann King Edward Med Uni Jan ;9(2):87-9.

After lung cancer, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women, accounting for 40,000 deaths per year. The study was both introspective and retrospective. This was carried out to establish the causes of delayed presentation and its consequences on patients prognosis. The study was carried out from June 2000 to April 2003. Hundred and forty eight patients were studied. Eighteen percent of patients presented under the age of 35 years and sixty six (44.59%,)were premenopause. Seventy five percent patients presented with advance breast carcinoma. Seventy percent presented after six months of detection of their disease. The causes of delay were social (25.5%), self neglect (17.6%), other treatment avenues (25%), fear of surgery (13.5%) and financial limitations (20.27%). Twenty three percent patients had distant metastasis. Bones (52%) followed by lungs (32%) were the common sites of metastasis. Modified radical mastectomy (58.7%) followed by simple /toilet mastectomy were the common surgical procedures carried out. No patient underwent breast reconstruction. Hundred and eight patients developed morbid depression. In order to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with carcinoma breast we must aim at early detection and prompt management of the disease.

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