Patterns of Palliative Radiotherapy Utilization for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer in Harare, Zimbabwe.

PURPOSE: In sub-Saharan Africa, radiotherapy (RT) utilization and delivery patterns have not been extensively studied in patients with metastatic breast cancer. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of female patients with metastatic breast cancer seen at Parirenyatwa Radiotherapy Centre in Zimbabwe from 2014 to 2018 was conducted. Demographics, pathology, staging, and treatment data were abstracted through chart review. Fisher's exact test and chi-squared test of independence were used to compare proportions, and independent two-sample t-tests were used to compare means. RESULTS: Of 351 patients with breast cancer, 152 (43%) had metastatic disease, median age 51 years (interquartile range: 43-61 years). Of those with metastatic disease, 30 patients (20%) received radiation to various metastatic sites: 16 spine; three nonspine bone metastases; six whole brain; and five chest wall or supraclavicular. Patients who received radiation were younger (46 v 52 years; P = .019), but did not differ significantly by performance status than those who did not. The most common dose prescription was 30 Gy in 10 fractions (33%). Five (17%) patients had treatment interruption and two (7%) had treatment noncompletion. Province of origin and clinical tumor stage were significant predictors of RT receipt (P = .002; and P = .018, respectively). CONCLUSION: A minority of patients with metastatic breast cancer received RT (20%), and these were likely to be younger, with advanced tumor stage, and resided in provinces where RT is available. Conventional courses were generally prescribed. There is a need to strongly consider palliative RT as an option for patients with metastatic breast cancer and use of hypofractionated courses (e.g. 8 Gy in one fraction) may support this goal.

Breast cancer in Zimbabwe: patterns of care and correlates of adherence in a national referral hospital radiotherapy center cohort from 2014 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Zimbabwe. Patients face socioeconomic barriers to accessing oncology care, including radiotherapy. We sought to understand patterns of care and adherence for women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with radiotherapy access. METHODS: A retrospective cohort was created for women with breast cancer evaluated at the Parirenyatwa Hospital Radiotherapy and Oncology Center (RTC) from 2014 to 2018. Clinical data were collected to define patterns of care. Non-adherence was modeled as a binary outcome with different criteria for patients with localized versus metastatic disease. RESULTS: In total, 351 women presented with breast cancer with median age 51 at diagnosis (IQR: 43-61). Receptor status was missing for 71% (248). 199 (57%) had non-metastatic disease, and 152 (43%) had metastases. Of women with localized disease, 34% received post-mastectomy radiation. Of women with metastatic disease, 9.7% received radiotherapy. Metastatic disease and missing HIV status were associated with increased odds of study-defined non-adherence (aOR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.28; aOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.11, 4.05), while availability of ER/PR status was associated with lower odds of non-adherence (aOR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy is likely underutilized for women with breast cancer, even in a setting with public sector availability. Exploring patient-level factors that influence adherence to care may provide clinicians with better tools to support adherence and improve survival. Greater investment is needed in multidisciplinary, multimodality care for breast cancer in SSA.