Medical and radiation oncology for breast cancer in developing countries with particular reference to locally advanced breast cancer.

Abstract

The first part of this review outlines the extent of the problem of breast cancer in developing countries, with particular reference to the difficulties surrounding breast cancer treatment in these countries. The second part is devoted to discussion of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiotherapy treatments suitable for developing countries. The goals of the review are to show how treatment strategies can be adapted in poorer countries and how oncologists from the developed world can play a role in developing countries. This review should be relevant to the developing world in general, but as the author comes from South Africa, many of the examples are from that country which has features of the developed and developing world.