Table 3 Urgent actions needed for breast cancer program in Angola
From: Stage at presentation of breast cancer in Luanda, Angola - a retrospective study
Task | Actions |
|---|---|
Structural developments | Hospital-based cancer registries, as a crucial step in order to establish a population-based cancer registry in Luanda. |
Capacity building and awareness | “Municipalities against cancer” a comprehensive educational program that includes general doctors, nurses and teachers. |
Diagnosis | Early detection; |
Proactive programme for early detection that includes clinical and ultrasound examination by municipal doctors. Introduction of the modified triple test score (MTTS); | |
Tissue procurement (FNA and histology); | |
Pathology diagnosis accuracy and determination of ER, PR, HER2 and KI-67 (protein) status by IHC. | |
Treatment decision | Multidisciplinary integrated treatment team in order to provide the most comprehensive treatment plan. |
Adequate treatment | Surgery: The best surgical treatment (Surgical oncology training); |
Systemic therapy: drugs availability, affordability and uninterrupted supply, safe storage and preparation, adequate prescription and administration, management of side effects; | |
Radiation therapy: to be included in breast treatment protocol, management of side effects related to radiation; | |
Accessibility to cost-effective chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and palliative care. | |
Follow-up | Shared and supported follow-up program including all levels of care and adequate registration of follow-up data. |
Palliative care | Pain control and adequate management of end-of-life care. |