A new study from Lautoka Hospital has found that many breast cancer patients in Fiji are being diagnosed at an advanced stage, contributing to poorer survival outcomes.
The study, led by Lautoka Hospital surgical registrar Dr Rahul Krishna Reddy, analysed 86 patients diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025.
The findings showed 38.3 per cent of patients presented with Stage IV disease, with a median survival of nine months among these cases.
Dr Reddy said most patients were women aged between 51 and 60, placing many within their economically productive years.
“This finding is crucial in understanding that most breast cancer patients belong to the working population in their economically productive years,” he said.
The study also found a significant association between ethnicity and advanced-stage presentation, with 53.2 per cent of iTaukei patients presenting with Stage IV disease compared with 20.5 per cent of patients of Indian descent.
Dr Reddy said the disparity could reflect differences in health literacy, cultural beliefs, healthcare-seeking behaviour, access to diagnostic services and socioeconomic circumstances.
Delayed presentation was another concern, with nearly one-third of patients reporting symptoms for more than 24 months before seeking medical attention. The median time from symptoms to presentation was six months.
Dr Reddy said prolonged tumour growth increased the likelihood of invasion, lymph-node involvement and distant spread, potentially limiting treatment options.
Geographic barriers also remained relevant, with 47.7 per cent of patients coming from rural areas.
He said further research was needed to understand the factors contributing to delayed diagnosis and ethnic disparities in breast cancer outcomes.
