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Background: In Morocco, much progress has been made in breast cancer treatment. However, there is limited information on survival outcomes of breast cancer patients according to their therapeutic management., Methods: A pattern-of-care study was conducted in Morocco's two main oncology centres: Rabat and Casablanca and has shown that major progress has been made in the quality of care with survival rates comparable to those in developed countries. The present study focuses on the different therapeutic strategies used in breast cancer and their impact on prognosis. Patients were classified into two categories: those considered as appropriately managed and those who were not., Results: A total of 1901 women with stage I to III breast cancer were included in this study, the majority (53%) were adequately managed and had better disease-free survival (DFS) rates than those who were not: DFS at 3 years (88% versus 62%) and at 5 years (80% versus 50%). Potential significant determinants of better management were: treatment in Rabat's oncology centre, treatment between 2008 and 2012, being aged younger than 60 years, and early TN stage., Conclusion: This study demonstrated the value of proper integrated and coordinated management in a comprehensive cancer centre, to improve breast cancer survival., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: We conducted a Pattern-of-care (POC) study at two premier-most public-funded oncology centers in Morocco to evaluate delays in care continuum and adherence to internationally accepted treatment guidelines of cervical cancer., Method: Following a systematic sampling method, cervical cancer patients registered at Centre Mohammed VI (Casablanca) and Institut National d'Oncologie (Rabat) during 2 months of every year from 2008 to 2017, were included in this retrospective study. Relevant information was abstracted from the medical records., Results: A total of 886 patients was included in the analysis; 59.5% were at stage I/II. No appreciable change in stage distribution was observed over time. Median access and treatment delays were 5.0 months and 2.3 months, respectively without any significant temporal change. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered to 57.7% of the patients receiving radiotherapy. Surgery was performed on 81.2 and 34.8% of stage I and II patients, respectively. A very high proportion (85.7%) of operated patients received post-operative radiation therapy. Median interval between surgery and initiation of radiotherapy was 3.1 months. Only 45.3% of the patients treated with external beam radiation received brachytherapy. Radiotherapy was completed within 10 weeks in 77.4% patients. An overall 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was observed in 57.5% of the patients - ranging from 66.1% for stage I to 31.1% for stage IV. Addition of brachytherapy to radiation significantly improved survival at all stages. The study has the usual limitations of retrospective record-based studies, which is data incompleteness., Conclusion: Delays in care continuum need to be further reduced. Increased use of chemoradiation and brachytherapy will improve survival further., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: In Morocco, knowledge of cancer risk factors, a crucial element in the process of behavioral change, has never been evaluated. This study aims to provide information on the level of awareness of cancer risk factors among the Moroccan general population., Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out in May 2008, using a stratified sampling method in a representative sample of the Moroccan adult population. The used questionnaire included social and demographic data as well as questions about 14 cancer related factors regarding passive or active smoking, alcoholic beverages, obesity, physical inactivity, food coloring, red meat, fat, salt, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, green tea, coffee, breast-feeding. Subjects had to choose between 3 propositions for each proposed factor (risk factor/Protective factor/Don't Know). The knowledge score was calculated by summing the correct answer for each proposed factor except coffee and food coloring. The answer was assigned 1 if it's correct or 0 if it was incorrect or the participant responded 'don't know. The maximum knowledge score was 12. Multivariate linear regression model was used to evaluate the determinants of knowledge score., Results: Among 2891 subjects who participated to the survey, 49.5% were men and 42% were from a rural area. The mean age was 41.6 ± 15.2 years. The mean knowledge score of cancer related factors was 8.45 ± 3.10 points. Knowledge score increased with educational level (β = -0.65 if school year ≤6 versus >6) and housing category (β = 1.80 in high standing housing vs rural housing). It was also higher in urban area, among never smokers and among people never consuming alcohol compared to others groups., Conclusion: These results provide valuable information necessary to establish relevant cancer prevention strategies in Morocco aiming to enhance and improve people's knowledge about risk factors especially in some target groups.