Epidemiological indicators and predisposing factors among patients of breast cancer in northern India: an institutional study

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer with highest mortality. It has different prognosis in Indian scenario with aggressive presentation as compared to the western population. This study was thus done to study the epidemiology and highlight these differences in clinical and prognostic factors. Materials and Method: This retrospective study was conducted to collect data on histologically proven cases of breast cancer from June 2017 to December 2019. Data pertaining to socio demographic factors, tumor factors, hormone receptor positivity and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) were collected. Data was thus interpreted as frequency tables and graphs. Results: A total of 455 patients were registered in this time period. Patients presented at an early age group of 31-50 years accounting for 53.6% of patients and at a higher stage of stage III accounting for 48.5% of patients, which is in contrast to the western population. 1.5% patients were of male gender. 57.6% of patients presented with lump in left breast and upper outer quadrant was most commonly involved in 36.1% of patients. Estrogen receptor positivity was seen in 45.5% patients and HER-2/neu was positive in 35.9%. Conclusion: Lower age of presentation, higher stage at the time of presentation, lower rate of positivity in ER and slightly higher expression of HER-2/neu receptors, point towards aggressive nature of breast cancer in Indian population as compared to various studies done in western countries. Subject Area: ONCOLOGY Keywords: Breast Cancer, Age, Stage, ER, HER-2/neu