Risk factors and histopathological features of breast cancer among women with different menopausal status and age at diagnosis.

Purpose: Although there are studies that investigate different risk factors and clinicopathological features of breast cancer in women at different age groups and menopausal status, there is a need for studies with larger study populations due to controversial findings. We conducted this study to identify demographic parameters in breast cancer patients and histopathological features of the tumors for different age groups and compare them to demonstrate significant differences, if any.

Methods: 3325 women diagnosed with breast cancer in Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital Outpatient Clinic between January 1994 and March 2014 were included in this study.

Results: Postmenopausal women who were older than 65 were found to have higher number of children, higher rates of oral contraceptive use, greater age at menarche, and have higher rates of first full-time pregnancy before the age of 30. On the other hand, higher rates of grade 3 tumors, advanced lymph node stage, lymphovascular invasion, and triple negative breast cancers were more frequently seen in premenopausal women below the age of 35. Since earlier age at the time of diagnosis is associated with bad prognosis, early diagnosis of breast cancer gains importance in younger women.

Conclusion: Implementing targeted screening programs of breast cancer for younger women may become a need in the future. Meanwhile, well-education on risks of breast cancer and regular self-examination for early diagnosis need to be emphasized for the prevention of breast cancer and related diseases in young ages.