Breast cancer guidelines for Uganda The Uganda Breast Cancer Working Group

INTRODUCTION
Breast cancer in Uganda is the third commonest cancer in women coming only next to cancer of the cervix and Kaposi’s sarcoma. The incidence of breast cancer in Uganda has doubled from 11:100,000 in 1961 to 22:100,000 in 1995.

Unfortunately the cases are often seen in late stages thus the outcome of treatment is inevitably unsatisfactory. The present day knowledge of this disease does not have any effective primary prevention. It is thus imperative that efforts should be made to detect the disease in its early stages.

Mammography has been found to be useful but it is not applicable as a means of mass screening in Uganda (there are only 2 mammography units in Uganda. Public education towards Breast Self Examination (BSE) should be propagated because it is practical and affordable.