Table 2 Demographic, clinical and pathologic characteristics of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer in a prospective Malawian cohort enrolled December 2016-October 2018

Demographics

Mean Age (years)

45

51

49

p = 0.231^a

Education status: n (%)

Did not complete primary school

4 (31)

34 (63)

13 (54)

p = 0.108^b

Completed at least primary school

9 (69)

20 (37)

11(46)

Socioeconomic Status

Occupation: n (%)

Employed full time

6 (46)

14 (26)

2 (8)

p = 0.026^b*; p = 0.019^c

Employed part time

2 (15)

2 (4)

1 (4)

Housewife

3 (23)

17 (31)

9 (38)

Unemployed

1 (8)

7 (13)

9 (38)

Other

1 (8)

14 (26)

3 (12)

House Flooring

Dirt/Dung/Sand^#

10 (77)

27 (50)

11 (46)

p = 0.215^b

Cement/tiles^$

3 (23)

27 (50)

13 (54)

Residence: n (%)

Lilongwe

6 (46)

8 (15)

2 (8)

p = 0.011^b*; p = 0.009

Outside of Lilongwe

7 (54)

46 (85)

22 (92)

n = 53

Family history of cancer n (%)

5 (38)

9 (17)

3 (13)

p = 0.134^b

Family history of breast cancer n (%)

3 (23)

2 (4)

2 (8)

p = 0.070^b

Performed self-breast exam in the past

p = 0.742^b

Yes

7 (54)

21 (39)

16 (67)

No

6 (46)

33 (61)

8 (33)

Underwent clinical breast exam in the past

n = 53

p = 0.773^b

Yes

12 (92)

45 (85)

21 (88)

No

1 (8)

8 (15)

3 (12)

n = 23

HIV positive n (%)

1 (8)

11 (20)

5 (22)

p = 0.532^b

Clinical Findings n (%)

Palpable breast mass > 5cm

5 (38)

40 (74)

22 (92)

p = 0.002^b;p = 0.001^c

Breast ulceration present

0 (0)

14 (26)

12 (50)

p = 0.005^b;p = 0.001^c

ECOG

0–1

13 (100)

52 (96)

15 (63)

p = 0.000^b*;p = 0.000^c

≥2

0 (0)

2 (4)

9 (37)

Tumor characteristics n (%)

Histology

n = 11

n = 44

n = 20

p = 0.795^b

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

10 (91)

38 (86)

20 (100)

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

0 (0)

1 (2)

0 (0)

Other

1 (9)

5 (11)

0 (0)

Grade

n = 11

n = 50

n = 23

p = 0.515^b;p = 0.39^c

1

4 (36)

15 (30)

4 (17)

2

3 (27)

16 (32)

9 (39)

3

4 (36)

15 (30)

10 (43)

Unable to grade

0 (0)

4 (8)

0 (0)

Hormone Receptor Status

n = 11

n = 50

n = 23

p = 0.0028^b*;p = 0.40^c

ER/PR+/HER2-

9 (82)

16 (32)

9 (39)

ER/PR+/HER2+

1 (9)

2 (4)

4 (17)

ER/PR-/HER2+

0 (0)

9 (18)

5 (22)

ER/PR-/HER2-

1 (9)

19 (38)

3 (13)

Undetermined^

4 (8)

2 (9)

T2

8 (62)

2 (4)

0 (0)

p = 0.00^b;p = 0.00^c

T3

5 (38)

14 (26)

1 (4)

T4

0 (0)

35 (65)

22 (92)

Unable to Assess

0 (0)

2 (4)

0 (0)

Missing

0 (0)

1 (2)

1 (4)

N0

7 (54)

6 (11)

1 (4)

p = 0.00^b,p = 0.00^c

N1

6 (46)

32 (59)

6 (25)

N2

0 (0)

9 (17)

9 (38)

N3

0 (0)

3 (6)

6 (25)

Unable to Assess

0 (0)

4 (7)

1 (4)

Missing

0 (0)

0 (0)

1 (4)