Breast cancer risk factors and stage at presentation

Abstract EN

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females all over the world.

In American females, it is accounting for 32% of all cancers.

It is well-known that there are major risk factors for cancer of the breast, such as, advanced age, positive family history and history of cancer in the same or other breast.

Minor factors have been associated with breast cancer, such as, mammogram abnormalities, biopsy confirmed a typical hyperplasia, early menarche and late menopause ...

etc… etc.

Not enough studies have concentrated on reviewing the risk factors in Bahrain; therefore, we have embarked on this study1,2.

Objective: To review and assess the staging and risk factors of breast cancer.

Setting: Surgery Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex.

Design: Retrospective / Prospective study.

Method: It is a retrospective / prospective clinical review involving 52 breast cancer patients operated upon by the senior author over five years period (1999-2005).

Presentation, diagnostic approach, and management were evaluated.

Age at presentation, age of menarche and menopause were recorded.

The risk factors, such as age at first delivery if any, lactation, hormonal therapy and if there were any past history or family history of breast or other related cancers.

The stage of the disease at presentation was reviewed.

Mortality and morbidity were recorded.

Result: All patients were females.

Age at diagnosis was below 30 years in 2 patients (3.8%), between 30-39 years in 12 patients (23.1%), between 40-49 years in 21 patients (40.4%), 50 years or more in 17 patients (32.7%).