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Background: In low income countries, many patients with breast cancer present with advanced disease which is majorly attributed to late presentation and this is associated with poor survival rates. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of patient delay and the factors that influence, delay in seeking health care in female breast cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done between January and April 2014 at a tertiary breast unit. Female patients with breast cancer above the age of 18 years were interviewed. Ethical approval was obtained. Results: In total 162 patients were recruited, the mean patient delay in months was 22.6 (SD = 26.4), median delay was 13 months and range was 1–127 months. 139 (89 %) patients delayed by more than 3 months after noticing symptoms of breast anomaly. Patients with no social support from spouses and family were more likely to delay (OR = 7.1, 95 % CI 2.4–21.5, p = 0.001), those who perceived the symptoms as very serious were less likely to delay (OR = 0.2, 95 % CI 0.1–0.6, p = 0.007). There was a significant association between delayed presentation and advanced stage at presentation (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Most women (89 %) with breast cancer delayed by more than 3 months to seek the first medical consultation after noticing symptoms. Patients who had no social support from their families were more likely to delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately one million people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) globally each year. Uganda is a developing country with an estimated total population of 32.9 million. The incidence of colorectal cancer is reported to be low. The clinical impression is that it occurs predominantly in young people who live in rural areas This study was aimed at determining the demographic and morphological features of a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer from in Mulago and Mbarara hospitals in Uganda. Methods: Histopathological specimens of 81 Ugandan patients with CRC (2006-2010) were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data was retrieved from the medical records. Tumours were examined to determine histological features suggestive of mismatch repair gene mutations (according to the revised Bethesda guidelines for micro satellite in stability testing). Results: The medianage of those with CRC was 55 years (range 20-89) at diagnosis. 30.6% and 6.9% of the patients were< 50 and< 30 year sold respectively. 94,9% of the tumours were located in the left side of the colon. Mucinous adenocarcinoma was significantly more common in patients under the age of 50. Based on the histological and demographic features, 22/81 (27.3%) patients met at least one of the criteria of the revised Bethesda Guidelines for MSI testing. Conclusions: Histological and demographic features suggestive of the genetic pathway typically seen in HNPCC were identified in 27.3% of patients. These features appear to be quite different from published data from first world countries. The limited availability of flexible colonoscopy, may contribute to the great preponderance of left-sided neoplasms (especially located in the rectum) and under diagnoses of right sided tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]