Prevalence of Gynaecological Malignancies: A Retrospective Study, Buea- Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction

Cancer is a global public health issue and one of the worldwide pathologies with severe morbidity and mortality. Gynaecological cancers are defined as cancer of the breast and organs of the genital tract. Breast cancer is the first gynaecological cancer worldwide, with more than 15 million cases and 600,000 deaths per annum. It is followed by cervical cancer, with about 528,000 new cases and 266,000 deaths per year. Endometrial cancer comes 3^rd and is closely followed by ovarian cancer. Cancer of the vagina is sporadic, representing about 1% of all gyneacological cancers. The objective of this study is to establish the prevalence of various gynaecological cancers.

Methodology

A retrospective study was carried out in the histopathology laboratory of the regional hospital Buea. Data were extracted from the registry of this department. The period for this study was from the 4^th of March 2016 to the 25^th of May 2019. The various cancers were aggregated according to age through basic descriptive statistics.

Results

Breast cancer is the 1^st gynaecological cancer with a percentage of 69.82%. Cancer of the cervix, the uterus, the ovary, the vulvae, the fallopian tube, and the vagina, followed respectively with the following percentages; 24.01 %, 3.75 %, 1.5 %,0.44%,0.22%, and 0.22%.

Discussion

Our study agreed with the findings of many authors, which classified breast cancer as the 1^st gynaecological cancer in women. Cervix Cancer spikes in the 41-50 age group and maintain the same trend in the 5^th decade, now alongside Breast cancer. Our findings are slightly different from those of many authors who think that the peak of cervical cancer appears earlier before giving way to the one of breast cancer.  These two cancers were found in this work to develop concomitantly in the 5^th decade. The findings of the other types of cancers were in agreement with those of many authors.

Conclusion

Gyneacological cancers are a public health concern the world over. Their epidemiology varies according to geographical location and socioeconomic standard. Breast cancer comes first, followed by endometrial, ovarian, vulvar, fallopian, and vaginal cancers. Breast and cervical cancers, regardless of age, seem to develop concomitantly, in this population.