Breast Cancer in Young Women: A Clinicopathological Hospital-based Descriptive Study from Kurdistan, Iraq

Background: Young women with breast cancer have been reported to present more aggressive clinical and pathological features, requiring more treatment options compared with older patients. Our objective was to investigate the clinicopathological features of breast cancer in our local young women. Method: We conducted an observational descriptive study on 100 young women (age <= 40) with breast cancer. The subjects were taken care of, at a single tertiary cancer facility, from mid-2007 to mid-2014. We reviewed the clinicopathological profiles and therapeutic strategies. Results: Ratio of breast cancer in young women was about 13% of all breast cancer patients. The mean age of the patients was 35 years +/- 4SD. 56% of the patients had grade III tumors and 46% were in stage III. Hormonal receptors were positive in 70%, while HER2 was positive in 26%. 70% of the patients underwent modified radical mastectomy, 96% received chemotherapy, and 70% received radiotherapy and required hormonal therapy. Conclusion: This review showed that breast cancer in our local young women was largely diagnosed at advanced stages with more aggressive clinico-pathological features. Moreover, most of the patients received more aggressive treatment options. Therefore, physicians should pay a close attention to breast lumps in young women.