Breast cancer in Kurdish women of northern Iraq: incidence, clinical stage, and case control analysis of parity and family risk.

Background: Breast cancer in the Middle-East occurs in relatively young women and frequently presents as advanced disease. A protective effect of multiparity is not apparent, and high familial risk is reported in some countries. This study investigates breast cancer rates and clinical stage related to age in the Kurdish region of Iraq and evaluates risk associated with parity and family history.