top of page

Importance: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cancer among women in Namibia. Examining the BC journey in this multiracial country where inequalities remain large is needed to inform effective interventions to reduce BC mortality. Objective: To describe the entire BC journey of Namibian women by race, utilizing the World Health Organization Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) framework. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used the Namibian subset of the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes prospective cohort. Participants were all Namibian residents with confirmed incident BC who presented at the main national public oncology center of the Windhoek Central Hospital (WCH). Follow-up started from recruitment (September 8, 2014, to October 5, 2016) and ended up to 3 years after diagnosis (December 13, 2014, to September 27, 2019). Data analysis was conducted from June 2022 to August 2023. Exposures: Participants' self-reported ethnicities were aggregated into 3 population groups: Black, mixed ancestry, and White. Main Outcomes and Measures: Three-year overall survival (OS) was examined using Cox models, and summary statistics were used to describe women's BC journey, including GBCI pillar key performance indicators: (1) early stage (TNM I or II) diagnosis (population benchmark ≥60%), (2) prompt diagnosis, ie, 60 days or less to first health care practitioner visit (population benchmark 100%), and (3) completion of recommended multimodal treatment (MT, ie, surgery plus chemotherapy) (population benchmark ≥80%). Results: Of 405 women, there were 300 (74%) Black (mean [SD] age, 53 [15] years), 49 (12%) mixed ancestry (mean [SD] age, 53 [7] years), and 56 (14%) White (mean [SD] age, 59 [12] years) patients. Three-year OS was lowest in Black women (60% [95% CI, 54%-66%], mixed ancestry: 80% [95% CI, 65%-89%], White: 89% [95% CI, 77%-95%]), who had lower prevalence of early stage diagnosis (Black: 37% [95% CI, 31%-42%], mixed ancestry and White: 75% [95% CI, 66%-83%]) and timely diagnosis (Black: 60% [95% CI, 54%-66%], mixed ancestry and White: 77% [95% CI, 69%-85%]), while MT completion (Black: 53% [95% CI, 46%-59%], mixed ancestry and White: 63% [95% CI, 50%-73%]) was low in all women. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of 405 Namibian residents with BC, marked racial disparities in survival were paralleled by inequities all along the BC journey. To improve BC survival, interventions are needed to promote earlier diagnosis in Black Namibian women and to increase MT initiation and completion in all women. © 2023 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Abstract

breast tumor, cohort analysis, early cancer diagnosis, female, human, middle aged, Namibia, prospective study, Breast Neoplasms, Cohort Studies, Early Detection of Cancer, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies

Significance Statement:

Analysis of the Breast Cancer Journey in Namibia

Boucheron P., Zietsman A., Pontac J., Hansen R., Anderson B.O., Togawa K., Macharia P.M., Foerster M., Schüz J., Dos-Santos-Silva I., McCormack V.

Breast cancer is a major concern for women in Namibia, a multiracial country with significant inequalities. This study, using the World Health Organization's Global Breast Cancer Initiative framework, highlights the disparity in survival rates and treatment experiences among women of different races in Namibia. It reveals that Black women face the lowest survival rates and emphasizes the need for interventions to promote early diagnosis and treatment completion among all women to improve breast cancer survival.

JAMA Network Open

2023

bottom of page