Breast cancer in Papua New Guinea: a survey of 10 years.

A retrospective review of cancer of breast in Papua New Guinean females for a period of 10 years revealed an annual reporting rate of 2.7 per 100,000. It contributed to 4.8% of all malignancies. The islands region has the highest incidence. The most common age group at diagnosis was 40-49 years. Histologically invasive ductal carcinomas formed 66% of the tumours. Resembling the African experience, the incidence of breast carcinoma in Papua New Guinea appears to be low and most patients report quite late.