Most breast cancer patients in a Lautoka Hospital study reported no history of smoking, alcohol or kava consumption.
This was shared by surgical registrar Dr Rahul Krishna Reddy in his case study.
“Of the 86 patients, 72 patients, had no history of smoking, alcohol or kava consumption,” he said.
“Six patients, or 7 per cent, were both smokers and alcohol consumers, four patients, or 4.7 per cent, were kava consumers, two patients, or 2.3 per cent, were smokers and two patients, or 2.3 per cent, were alcohol consumers.”
Mr Reddy also emphasised tumour size at diagnosis.
“Fifty patients had tumours measuring 2 to 5 centimetres, 29 patients had tumours over 5 centimetres, six patients had tumours measuring 1 to 2 centimetres, and one patient had a tumour less than one centimetre.
“Thirty patients presented at Stage IV, 24 patients at Stage II, 17 patients at Stage I and 12 patients at Stage III, while zero patients presented at Stage 0.
“Fifty patients, or 62.8 per cent, had tumours in the left breast, 31 patients had tumours in the right breast, and one patient had bilateral breast cancer.”
