Associations Between Breast Cancer Stage, Surgical Treatment, and Adjuvant Therapy in a Resource-Limited Setting: A Descriptive Study from Al Bayda, Libya

Salma  S. Alhasi; Muna S. Solyman; Manal F. Yaya; Eda  M. A. Alshailabi; Monder W. Elhawari; Abeer H. Amer

doi:10.33214/rk7wha94

Authors

Salma S. Alhasi 1General Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Omar AL Mukhtar University Author
Muna S. Solyman Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Benghazi Author
Manal F. Yaya Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi Author
Eda M. A. Alshailabi Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Omar Al Mukhtar University Author
Monder W. Elhawari Medicine Department, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Libyan International University Author
Abeer H. Amer Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33214/rk7wha94

Keywords:

Breast Cancer, Mastectomy, Radiotherapy Access, Al Bayda, Libya.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) management in low-resource settings faces unique challenges due to limited diagnostic capacity, infrastructural constraints, and restricted access to adjuvant therapies. This retrospective descriptive study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment patterns, and adjuvant therapy coverage among BC patients in Al Bayda, Libya, and to identify barriers affecting the delivery of standard care. Data were collected from 57 histopathologically confirmed BC patients treated between 2017 and 2019, including age, tumour stage, surgical intervention, and receipt of adjuvant therapy. Patients’ ages ranged from 33 to 75 years, with a notable predominance of relatively younger women. Most patients (68.4%) were diagnosed at an early stage. Despite this, simple mastectomy with axillary clearance remained the predominant surgical approach, performed in 87.7% of cases, including a substantial proportion of early-stage patients. Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) was not available locally, and patients were referred to other cities for treatment, often resulting in inconsistent documentation. Chemotherapy (CHT) was administered to 94.7% of patients, irrespective of stage. Cancer stage did not significantly influence surgical or CHT decisions, whereas surgical procedure type was significantly associated with the likelihood of receiving postoperative RT (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that structural limitations, rather than clinical stage alone, strongly influence treatment decisions in Al Bayda. Establishing a dedicated local RT centre would enhance access to breast-conserving surgery, reduce treatment burdens, and promote alignment with international standards.

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