Surgical interventions for breast cancer in the public health system: data from the hospital regional de Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Introduction: In Brazil, breast cancer is the most common neoplasm among women, excluding non-melanoma skin tumors, and is the main cause of cancer mortality in this group. Surgical treatment can be conservative or radical, including axillary lymph node dissection.

Objective: To analyze cases of surgical intervention in patients with breast cancer in a municipality served by the SUS (Unified Health System).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative epidemiological study, based on the analysis of medical records of patients undergoing cancer treatment at the Hospital Regional de Cáceres Dr. Antônio Fontes, in Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The period analyzed was from September 22 to December 8, 2023. Data collection followed standardized procedures, using Microsoft Excel 365.

Results: A total of 319 medical records were analyzed, of which 131 cases (41%) were of breast neoplasia. Among the patients with this pathology, 80.9% underwent surgical interventions, totaling 106 patients and 120 procedures, since 18 underwent more than one surgery. Quadrantectomy predominated, performed in 74 cases (61.6%), 53 of which were accompanied by axillary dissection. Mastectomy was performed in 20 cases (16.6%) and segmentectomy in 17 cases (14.1%). As for staging, grades II and III were the most common, representing 40% and 30% of the cases, respectively. Regarding the age group, 24.1% of the patients were 60 years old, followed by 18.3% in the 40 and 50 age groups.

Conclusion: The analysis indicates a predominance of elderly women in advanced stages of the disease, evidencing failures in screening. This results in a high demand for surgeries, with quadrantectomy associated with axillary lymphadenectomy in cases of positive sentinel lymph node being the most common. The need for multiple surgical procedures increases costs for the public health system and negatively impacts patients’ quality of life, both physically and psychologically. It is essential to ensure functional rehabilitation and quality of life for patients, as well as to improve screening and early intervention practices to prevent disease progression and reduce the need for invasive surgeries, which would ultimately help in controlling healthcare expenses.

Corresponding author: Anna Fernanda Silva e Souza (e-mail: anna.fernanda@unemat.br).