Patient age at diagnosis and the clinicopathological features of breast cancer in women
Edmund Muonir Der, JNA Clegg-Lamptey, EK Wiredu
Abstract
Background
Breast cancer (BC) is diagnosed commonly in younger Ghanaian women compared to women in western countries.
Aims
The aim of this study was to compare the clinico-pathological features of BC in young women (≤39 years) with older women (≥40 years) and draw conclusions.
Methods
This was a retrospective review (2001–2014).
Results
Approximately 19.6per cent of the study population were women aged ≤39 years (Group A). Bilateral BCs were commoner in group A compared to B (women aged 40 years or older), [(1.1per cent vs. 0.6per cent), (p=0.002]. About 60.7 per cent of group A had skin involvement compared to 71.3 per cent for B, (p=0.002). About 75.7 per cent of group A women presented with breast lumps after 3 months of onset (late), compared to 70.1 per cent of group B women (p=0.000). The mean size of primary BC for A was 5.6cm compared to 5.1cm for B, (p=0.004). Positive tumour margins were found in 27.7 per cent of BCs in A and 24.2 per cent in B, (p=0.003). Grade 3 tumours were common in group A than B [(35.8 per cent vs. 31.0 per cent), p=0.002]. Approximately, 70.5 per cent group A women had positive nodes compared to 88.8 per cent of group B (p=0.001). Higher TNM stages were found in group A compared to B [(58.1 per cent vs. 51.1 per cent, p=0.033)].
Conclusion
The study found that 19.6 per cent of the women were age 39 years or younger. Features of advanced BC were common in younger women. Routine self-breast examination is recommended for all Ghanaian women to enhance early detection and management of neoplastic lesions.
Full Text:
Breast cancer (BC) is diagnosed commonly in younger Ghanaian women compared to women in western countries.
Aims
The aim of this study was to compare the clinico-pathological features of BC in young women (≤39 years) with older women (≥40 years) and draw conclusions.
Methods
This was a retrospective review (2001–2014).
Results
Approximately 19.6per cent of the study population were women aged ≤39 years (Group A). Bilateral BCs were commoner in group A compared to B (women aged 40 years or older), [(1.1per cent vs. 0.6per cent), (p=0.002]. About 60.7 per cent of group A had skin involvement compared to 71.3 per cent for B, (p=0.002). About 75.7 per cent of group A women presented with breast lumps after 3 months of onset (late), compared to 70.1 per cent of group B women (p=0.000). The mean size of primary BC for A was 5.6cm compared to 5.1cm for B, (p=0.004). Positive tumour margins were found in 27.7 per cent of BCs in A and 24.2 per cent in B, (p=0.003). Grade 3 tumours were common in group A than B [(35.8 per cent vs. 31.0 per cent), p=0.002]. Approximately, 70.5 per cent group A women had positive nodes compared to 88.8 per cent of group B (p=0.001). Higher TNM stages were found in group A compared to B [(58.1 per cent vs. 51.1 per cent, p=0.033)].
Conclusion
The study found that 19.6 per cent of the women were age 39 years or younger. Features of advanced BC were common in younger women. Routine self-breast examination is recommended for all Ghanaian women to enhance early detection and management of neoplastic lesions.
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