A Review on the Status of Breast Cancer Care in Tanzania

Abstract

Tanzania continues to enjoy stability and growth in different sectors similar to other countries; however, some challenges persist in the health sector, especially in the area of cancer care. The current study aimed at reviewing social economic status (SES), as well as factors contributing to the increased burden of breast cancer (BC) in Tanzania. The current study reviewed different literature ranging from nationally/ internationally published statistics, academic publications, health information of non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, and other sources of health information to better understand the socioeconomic and BC care status in Tanzania. The current review showed that BC is still the second most prevalent malignant disease in Tanzania, and most of the patients referring to medical centers are in the advanced stage of the disease due to shortage and unaffordability of health care services. The majority of health-related interventions and investments target infectious diseases, including HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, as well as maternal and child health-related conditions, compared to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as BC. In spite of some setbacks and improvements in healthcare facilities (e g, novel techniques for early detection), the best way to address BC care is affordable fees for clinical and laboratory investigations, accessible treatment, palliative care, follow-up, rehabilitative care, and better management and allocation of resources.