Abstract

BREAST CARCINOMA IN WOMEN 40 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE IN SERIES OF 135 CASES FROM EASTERN ALGERIA

Henouda Sarra*, Bensalem Assia and Rouabah Leila

Abstract

Background: Actually, breast cancer constitutes one of the mosthealth problems in Algeria and the leading cause of death amongAlgerian women. Breast cancer in young women is a rare form, but ithas an aggressive behavior associated with a poor prognosis. Aims:this study focuses to report breast cancer phenotype in Algerian youngwomen. Material and methods: in order to better understand thedeterminants and tumor biology that may explain earlier onset andaggressive breast cancer characteristics in Algeria from December2011 to July 2014, 135 patients aged 40 years and under diagnosedwith breast cancer were included in the study. Results: Of the 135patients recorded, 65.9% patients were aged between 36-40 years. Themean age was 36.29 years. A significantly higher proportion of womenwere overweight or obese (62.9%). 75.6% of patients had full-term pregnancy. 29.6% ofbreast cancers were diagnosed during pregnancy or after childbirth. Positive breast cancerfamily history was found in 34.1%. In 87.4% of cases the revealing sign was breast mass.Stage II and III associated with axillary lymph nodes involvement, higher pathological gradeand hormone receptor positive were predominant. Neo-adjuvant was administered to 28.8%.74.1% of patients underwent radical mastectomy using Patey technique with completeaxillary dissection. Distant metastases at diagnosis were seen in 13.3%. The mean clinicaltumor size was 4.80 cm. 71.1% of tumors were invasive ductal carcinoma. Conclusion: early-onset Algerian breast cancer is more likely to present at an advanced stage with poor prognosis.

Keywords: Algeria, breast cancer, young women, prognosis, advanced.