Introduction: The aims of this study were to appreciate the epidemiological, therapeutic and pronostic aspects of breast cancer. This retrospective study was carried out in gynecology service in Hopital Principal of Dakar. We collected 473 cases of breast cancer over a period of 15 years, from January 1986 to December 2001.
Materials and methods: Only the patients having a histological diagnosis were involued. The identification of patients, their medical history, their present complaints and the different treatment performed, were registred. The actuarial method of survival was used.
Results: The mean age of patients was 42.5 years; the average of parity was 4.7. The patients live in Dakar in 245 cases (51.7%). We had observed 279 cases (59.1%) diagnosed between six months and twelve months. Only 74 cases (15.8%) were diagnosed less than three months. In 282 cases (60%) the disease stage was T4N1Mx in TNM classification. In 425 cases (89.89) the histological type was infiltrate canal carcinoma. The surgery had concerned 441 patients (93.2%). And 52 of them (11%) underwent conservative treatment and 309 out of them (65.2%) underwent total mastectomy associated to axillary cleaning out like Patey method. Chemotherapy had been done in 426 cases (90%), hormonotherapy in 92 cases (19.4%) radiotherapy in 83 cases (17. 5%) and surgical costiation had been performed in 42 cases (8.8%). The overall survival at 15 years was (8.5%).
Conclusion: According to the issues of other african series we found out that our patients were young at the time of the diagnosis, We think that early diagnosis and appropriated treatment must improve the prognosis of breast cancer. The mass screening politics must be involved.