Younger age as a prognostic indicator in breast cancer: a cohort study.

Background: The debate continues as to whether younger women who present with breast cancer have a more aggressive form of disease and a worse prognosis. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of breast cancer in women under 40 years old and to analyse the clinicopathological characteristics and outcome compared to an older patient cohort.

Methods: Data was acquired from a review of charts and the prospectively reviewed GUH Department of Surgery database.