"I was shocked by some of the things we found," Boyle said,
adding he believes there are various reasons why women in poorer
countries are diagnosed late. Lack of treatment is one. He cites
an example: In Bangladesh, there is one trained oncologist for
150 million people. There's also a lot of stigma preventing
women from seeking treatment. "It's a very, very sad thing,"
Boyle said. For example, in Kenya and Uganda, 100% of women seek
help with advanced or metastatic breast cancer, said Boyle.
Metastatic breast cancer means the cancer has spread to other
parts of the body; advanced breast cancer means it's the most
advanced stage of breast cancer that has not spread outside the
breast. In both cases, a late diagnosis can impede efforts
toward a cure. By comparison, the report said, "It is calculated
that less than 10% of the breast cancer patients in the U.S. are
diagnosed with LABC (locally advanced breast cancer). Women in
the United States are not immune from late diagnoses." Julie
Gerberding, a former dir