Therapeutic Clinical Trial Eligibility and Enrollment among Women with Breast Cancer: Implications for Understanding Trial Disparities.

Introduction: Therapeutic clinical trials frequently lack diverse representation, hindering generalizability and exacerbating preexisting disparities in clinical outcomes. This study explored associations between breast cancer patient demographics, clinical trial eligibility, and enrollment in a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center.

Patients And Methods: This prospective cohort study included patients with breast cancer screened for therapeutic clinical trials from July 2020 to January 2024.

Mental health and quality of life following breast cancer diagnosis in patients seen at a tertiary care hospital in Nairobi, Kenya: A qualitative study.

Mental health challenges are common following cancer diagnosis, negatively impacting treatment and quality of life for breast cancer (BC) patients. This pilot study provides an understanding of the impacts of BC diagnosis and care experiences on the mental health of patients seen at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. We conducted 40 in-depth interviews, including 10 women with newly diagnosed BC, 10 women with metastatic BC, 10 family members and 10 healthcare professionals.

Meaningful engagement of people living with cancer: Leveraging breast cancer survivors in a stigma reduction intervention in Tanzania.

Introduction: Cancer-related stigma is a key driver of advanced breast cancer stage in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We developed and tested the impact of a breast cancer survivor-led Stigma reduction intervention (SRI) on stigma and treatment adherence of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer in Tanzania.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors were trained on breast cancer knowledge and motivational interviewing.

Impact of Affordable Care Act Provisions on the Racial Makeup of Patients Enrolled at a Deep South, High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic.

Purpose: Black women are less likely to receive screening mammograms, are more likely to develop breast cancer at an earlier age, and more likely to die from breast cancer when compared to White women. Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions decreased cost sharing for women's preventive screening, potentially mitigating screening disparities. We examined enrollment of a high-risk screening program before and after ACA implementation stratified by race.

Proportion of early-stage breast cancer at diagnosis in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer-affecting women globally, with disproportionally high mortality rates in lower-income countries, including Ethiopia. The stage at diagnosis is a well-defined predictive system that determines the likelihood of breast cancer mortality. Early-stage breast cancer at diagnosis is associated with better treatment outcomes as compared with late stage.

Factors associated with completeness in documentation of diagnostic work-up and treatment in patients with breast cancer in Sudan.

Purpose: This study evaluates the relationship between geography and ethnicity on the completeness of documentation of diagnostic work-up and treatment modalities in Sudan for patients with breast cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study used data abstracted from patients with breast cancer receiving cancer care at Sudan's largest cancer centre (Radiation and Isotopes Center Khartoum) in 2017. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were abstracted from paper medical records.

Impact of Affordable Care Act provisions on the racial makeup of patients enrolled at a Deep South, high-risk breast cancer clinic.

Purpose: Black women are less likely to receive screening mammograms and are at a higher lifetime risk for developing breast cancer compared to their White counterparts. Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions decreased cost sharing for women's preventive screening, potentially mitigating screening disparities. We examined enrollment of a high-risk screening program before and after ACA implementation stratified by race.

Breast cancer among African American and sub-Saharan African women: a tale of global inequities.

Breast Cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide with significant global disparities, particularly disadvantaging women of African Ancestry. Though the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa are seemingly very different settings, there are many important parallels between the experience of getting diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in these two geographic regions for women of African ancestry. This commentary explores the parallels and differences and proposes an agenda to move forward to narrow the disparities gaps for some of the worlds most vulnerable women.

American Indian/Alaska native access to colorectal cancer screening: Does gastroenterologist density matter?

Background: American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) receive less colorectal cancer (CRC) screening than other populations. Using gastroenterologist (GI) locations as a measure of colonoscopy access, we correlate GI density and AI/AN CRC screening rates.

Methods: We identified GIs from the 2016 National Provider Identifier registry, and calculated GI density per 100,000 people.

Malignant phyllodes tumor and primary breast sarcoma; distinct rare tumors of the breast.

Background: Malignant phyllodes (MP) and primary breast sarcomas (PBS) are rare neoplasms with overlapping histopathologic features. We compared overall survival (OS) and estimated the association of surgery and therapies with OS.

Methods: We utilized the National Cancer Database (2004-2016).

Controversies in Breast Cancer Surgery.

Breast surgical oncology is a rapidly evolving field with significant advances shaped by practice-changing research. Three areas of ongoing controversy are (1) high rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in the United States despite uncertain benefit, (2) indications for and use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and endocrine therapy (NET), and (3) staging and treatment of the axilla, particularly after neoadjuvant systemic therapy. We discuss the patient populations for whom CPM may or may not be beneficial, indications for NACT and NET, and the trend toward de-escalation of locoregional axillary treatment.

Primary Esophageal Angiosarcoma.

Primary esophageal angiosarcoma is an extremely rare cancer. Thus, evidence-based guidance on diagnosis and treatment is lacking. The current workup and management is extrapolated from other esophageal and angiosarcoma pathology.

Breast Cancer Surgery Decision Role Perceptions and Choice of Surgery.

Background: Retrospective studies have reported that breast cancer patients who perceived more personal responsibility for the surgery decision were more likely to undergo aggressive surgery. We examined this in a prospective study.

Methods: 100 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients identified their decision- making role using the Patient Preference Scale.

Successful use of rivaroxaban in inferior vena cava thrombosis provoked by multiple traumatic injuries and surgeries: A case report.

What Is Known And Objectives: There is a lack of consensus regarding optimal anticoagulation regimen and duration for inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus due to the paucity of clinical evidence. A case of IVC thrombus treated with 3 months of rivaroxaban therapy is reported.

Case Description: Fifty-two-year-old male Caucasian presented following a motorcycle accident, with multiple left rib fractures requiring emergent amputation surgeries.

Experiences and perceptions regarding clinical breast exam screening by trained laywomen in Malawi.

Purpose: Despite the increasing burden, breast cancer control in sub-Saharan Africa is insufficient. Late diagnosis and lack of early detection and screening services contribute to high mortality. Clinical breast exam (CBE) screening can be valuable in low-income countries, including use of community health workers and non-health professionals to conduct exams.

Jejunojejunostomy intussusception after gastric bypass: Case report of a rare but serious complication.

Obesity, and the comorbidities associated with it, have become endemic within society. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is an increasingly common procedure with medical and cosmetic benefits (Li et al., 2014) [1].

Financial contributions to global surgery: an analysis of 160 international charitable organizations.

Background: The non-profit and volunteer sector has made notable contributions to delivering surgical services in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). As an estimated 55 % of surgical care delivered in some LMICs is via charitable organizations; the financial contributions of this sector provides valuable insight into understanding financing priorities in global surgery.

Methods: Databases of registered charitable organizations in five high-income nations (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) were searched to identify organizations committed exclusively to surgery in LMICs and their financial data.

Clinical breast examination screening by trained laywomen in Malawi integrated with other health services.

Background: Breast cancer awareness and early detection are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Resource limitations make screening mammography or clinical breast examination (CBE) by physicians or nurses impractical in many settings. We aimed to assess feasibility and performance of CBE by laywomen in urban health clinics in Malawi.

From Community Laywomen to Breast Health Workers: A Pilot Training Model to Implement Clinical Breast Exam Screening in Malawi.

Background: Breast cancer burden is high in low-income countries. Inadequate early detection contributes to late diagnosis and increased mortality. We describe the training program for Malawi's first clinical breast exam (CBE) screening effort.

Funding allocation to surgery in low and middle-income countries: a retrospective analysis of contributions from the USA.

Objective: The funds available for global surgical delivery, capacity building and research are unknown and presumed to be low. Meanwhile, conditions amenable to surgery are estimated to account for nearly 30% of the global burden of disease. We describe funds given to these efforts from the USA, the world's largest donor nation.