STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF REPORTED CASES OF BREAST CANCER

Abstract

The data for this research work titled statistical analysis of reported cases of Breast cancer was collected from the selected general hospital in Akwa Ibom State. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected general hospital in Akwa Ibom. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up doctors, nurses, senior staff and junior staff was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Breast cancer (Malignant breast neoplasm) is cancer originating from the tissue most commonly from the inner living of the milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. According to one of the breast cancer journals (www.webmd.com) the size, stage, rate of growth and other characteristics of the tumor determine the series of treatment. Treatment may include surgery, drugs, chromosomal therapy and (radiation and immunotherapy) surgical removal of the tumor provides the benefits with surgery alone being capable of producing a cause in long term disease free survival. Several chemotherapy regimes are commonly in addition to surgery. Most forms of thermotherapy kills cells that are dividing rapidly anywhere in the breast that were missed by the surgery which usually extends survival somewhat, although, radiation exposure to the heart may cause heart failure in the future. Some breast cancers are sensitive to hormones such as estrogen and progesterone which makes it possible to treat them blocking the effects of these hormones. Breast cancer surgery in the 18th century, because of its visibility, breast cancer was the form of cancer most often described in ancient documents, because autopsies  were rare, cancer of the internal organ were essentially invisible to ancient medicine, breast cancer however could be felt through the skin and in its advanced state often developed into fumigating lesion, the junior would become necrotic (die from the inside causing the tumor to appear to break up) and ulcerate through the skin, weeping fetid dark fluid.  The oldest description of cancer was discovered in Egypt and dates back to approximately 1600BC. The Edwin Smith pangrus described eight cases of tumors or ulcers of the breast that were treated by cauterization, the writing says about the disease, there is no treatment for centuries, physicians describes similar cases in their practices with the same conclusion. Ancient, from the time of Greeks through the 17th century was based on humoralism and thus believed that breast cancer was generally caused by imbalances in the fundamental fluids of black biles, alternatively, patients often saw it as divine punishment. In the 18th century, a wide variety of medical explanations were proposed, including a black of sexual activity, physical injuries to the breast, curdled breast milks and various forms of lymphatic blockages, either internal or due to restrictive clothing. In the 19th century, Scottish surgeon John Rodman said that there is a fear of cancer’s tendency to run in families. Although, breast cancer was known in ancient times, it was uncommon until the 19th century when improvements in sanitation and control of deadly infectious diseases result in dramatic increase in life span. Previously, most women had died too young to have developed breast cancer. Additionally, early and frequent child bearing and breast feeding probably reduced the rate of breast cancer development in these women who did survive to middle age. Ancient medicine believed that the cause was systematic, rather than local and because surgery carried a high mortality rate. The referred treatment tended to be pharmacological rather than surgical. Breast cancer journal (www.webmd.com).According to society of women’s health research in the US (2005) both incidence and death rates for breast cancer have been divining in the last few years in native Americans and Alaskan, the research also indicated that breast cancer  remains the most feared disease even though heart disease is exaggerated than the risk of breast cancer. According to “world cancer report 2008”, breast cancer caused 455,503 deaths worldwide (13.7% of cancer deaths in women) breast cancer is more than 100 times common in women than in men, although, males tend to have poorer outcome due to delay in diagnosis. The Federal Capital Territory like other states in Nigeria had suffered great pain from this deadly disease even before the establishment of National Hospital Abuja on the 22nd of May 1999 by the federal government of Nigeria and was commissioned by the former head of state, his Excellency, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and opened its door to patients on the 11th Oct. 1999.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Breast cancer is one of the dangerous disease that affect women in the world, causing pains in the faces of our mother and even men in the society at large. This has prompted the researcher to determine whether the reported cases of breast cancer are on the increase or decrease within the period of ten years.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to analyze whether the rate of breast cancer is on the increase or decrease within a period of ten years.

The objectives of this research work are:

1. To determine the trend movement of the disease.
2. To forecast the trend of the disease.
3. To determine if the proportion of survival is equal among the specified age groups.

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀: The rate of breast cancer is on the decrease

H₁: The rate of breast cancer is not on the decrease.

H₀²: there is no proportion of survival of cancer among the specified age groups.

H₂: there is proportion of survival of cancer among the specified age groups

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work will be useful to the Government, the medical centers, private and public health practitioners, researchers who may like to investigate more about the disease and to the society at large.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STDUY

The scope of the study covers the statistical analysis of reported cases of breast cancer. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS 

Malignant Tumor: A mass of cells growing on part of the body where they usually cause medical problems.

Cancer: A serious disease in which there is an abnormal growth in the body cell and kill the normal body cells.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

Related Project Topics :