CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN CENTRAL KERALA

Abstract

Jojo Vattappalllil Joseph, Ranjith Bhaskar

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women with increasing incidence. Mortality is higher in India compared to developed countries. A thorough knowledge of the epidemiological profile is imperative to formulate control strategies for a population. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a 2-year retrospective study on diagnosed cases of breast cancer in central Kerala. Demographic data and risk factors are collected on a proforma and analysed. RESULTS All 150 patients studied were females and most belonged to the age group of 40-60 years. A breast lump was the commonest presentation (88%), most commonly, on the right side (70.6%) with a median duration of symptoms of 11 months. 46.6% patients had AJCC TNM stage III at presentation. 5.3% had a positive family history. Hormone replacement therapy was present in 2.6% and 6% had a history of prior breast malignancy. CONCLUSION Breast cancer in Kerala is more biologically aggressive disease than in the west with a widely different spectrum of presentation and behaviour. Compounding this is a late presentation in an advanced stage. More cases need to be detected early with routine health check-ups and periodic screening of high-risk groups for better disease control.

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