Breast cancer in young women: a rising threat: A 5-year follow-up comparative study

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer in young women is usually considered as breast cancer occurring in women younger than 40 years and is the most frequent cancer-related cause of death in these patients. In the past few years, there seems to be an increasing trend in the prevalence of breast cancer in young women, which, associated with poorer prognosis, more aggressive histologic features, and more frequent recurrence rates, makes it a rising threat to young women. This study aimed to evaluate the biological behavior of breast cancer in young women in our institution.

Material and methods: A retrospective, unicentric, cohort study was conducted between 2012 and 2016. All consecutive patients with breast cancer were enrolled in the study. Cases were divided into two groups: case group, those younger than 40 years, and control group, those 40 years or older. The exclusion criterion was nonoperative treatment. Several clinical and pathologic parameters were evaluated, as well as were overall survival time and disease-free survival time.

Results: The incidence of breast cancer in young women presented a rising tendency over the study period. Significant differences were observed in the comparison of the groups according to body mass index, age at menarche, age at birth of the first child, and proliferation rate. There were no differences in overall survival and disease-free survival rates between the groups.

Conclusions: Young women had a more symptomatic presentation, a greater tumor proliferation rate, but similar outcomes compared with older patients. Greater multicentric studies are needed to confirm or refute these results.

Keywords: age; breast cancer; young women.

Figure 1.

Kaplan-Meier curves of disease-free survival (the red line denotes <40 years; the blue line denotes 40 years and older)

Figure 2.

Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival (the red line denote <40 years; the blue line denotes 40 years or older)