Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: cervical cancer is the sixth greatest cause of women's death in Chile, with a great impact in women between 30 to 45 years old. The National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (Casen 2017) showed that the migrant population actually living in a regular established condition was 465,000, which represents 2.7% of the national population. More than half (52.6%) are women with 65.5% of them being between 20 to 50 years of age.
Objectives: to analyze data of these new patients cared for in our hospital in Santiago, which covers one of the primary areas where they have established their new homes. The objective of this research is to characterize this population.
Methods: we searched retrospectively in the databases of the gynecology oncology and pathology units of San Borja Arriaran hospital for the following parameters; cervical cancer, age of initial diagnosis, prior cervical screening, treatment, and country of origin. We found a total of 45 records of female patients with cervical cancer, that were reviewed and analyzed by three members of our unit.
Results: in a three-year period (2016 to 2018), we found records of 45 migrants with cervical cancer who received treatment in our gynecological oncology unit, representing 30% of all our patients. They came from different countries: Peru, Colombia, HaitÃ, the Republic of Cuba, and the Dominican republic, and had a median age of 43.5 years.
Nearly half (48%) of our patients had not had a recent PAP (Papanicolaou) smear and 25% had never been screened for cervical cancer.
We found that the most frequent histology was squamous (77%), 2/3 had a locally advanced cancer, receiving chemoradiotherapy as their primary treatment, and two cases received palliative radiotherapy.
Two patients returned their home country before treatment and 10 after completing their treatment; 73% of our patients continue their follow-up as indicated in our national guidelines.
Conclusions: our findings were similar to those found in the international literature regarding: prevalence, histological type, and age of initial diagnosis (fertile age and actively working). The population analyzed do not attend cervical cancer screening either in Chile or their own country, finding that the primary derivation cause was an advance cervical cancer with greater morbility and side effects.
During the last 10 years we have experienced an increased migration rate, that in cervical cancer disease needs an extra effort in primary and secondary screening. And most importantly we need to study and learn about their needs and vulnerabilities for establishing new health and educational policies.
Objectives: to analyze data of these new patients cared for in our hospital in Santiago, which covers one of the primary areas where they have established their new homes. The objective of this research is to characterize this population.
Methods: we searched retrospectively in the databases of the gynecology oncology and pathology units of San Borja Arriaran hospital for the following parameters; cervical cancer, age of initial diagnosis, prior cervical screening, treatment, and country of origin. We found a total of 45 records of female patients with cervical cancer, that were reviewed and analyzed by three members of our unit.
Results: in a three-year period (2016 to 2018), we found records of 45 migrants with cervical cancer who received treatment in our gynecological oncology unit, representing 30% of all our patients. They came from different countries: Peru, Colombia, HaitÃ, the Republic of Cuba, and the Dominican republic, and had a median age of 43.5 years.
Nearly half (48%) of our patients had not had a recent PAP (Papanicolaou) smear and 25% had never been screened for cervical cancer.
We found that the most frequent histology was squamous (77%), 2/3 had a locally advanced cancer, receiving chemoradiotherapy as their primary treatment, and two cases received palliative radiotherapy.
Two patients returned their home country before treatment and 10 after completing their treatment; 73% of our patients continue their follow-up as indicated in our national guidelines.
Conclusions: our findings were similar to those found in the international literature regarding: prevalence, histological type, and age of initial diagnosis (fertile age and actively working). The population analyzed do not attend cervical cancer screening either in Chile or their own country, finding that the primary derivation cause was an advance cervical cancer with greater morbility and side effects.
During the last 10 years we have experienced an increased migration rate, that in cervical cancer disease needs an extra effort in primary and secondary screening. And most importantly we need to study and learn about their needs and vulnerabilities for establishing new health and educational policies.
PDF