Changing Pattern and Prevalence of Breast Cancer in Al – Kadhymia Teaching Hospital / Baghdad

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer represent 10%of all cancers diagnosed worldwide. The number of cases worldwide has significantly increased since the 1970s, and in2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths)

Aim of the study:

To estimate the prevalence of breast cancer during years (2004-2010) 

To estimate the effect of risk factors on the occurrence of Breast cancer, especially the effect of stressful life events in Iraq.

Patients and methods: Retrospective cross sectional study was done in Al-  Kadhimya Teaching Hospital / Baghdad during the period from June.2004 to June.2010 on 196 patients diagnosed to have breast  cancer and had mastectomy operations .After history ,examination required investigation were done ,special attention was given to the risk factors especially history of stressful life events

Results: there was a significant increase in the number of mastectomy operations when compare cases in 2005, in which there was 20 mastectomies to 42 mastectomies in   2010   while the total number of operations in the same period was (1590) operations in 2005 and increased to (1955) operations in 2010

Conclusions: The definite rise in the number and the decreased age of presentation of breast cancer could be due to increasing stressful life conditions affecting Iraqi population. There is a statistical significant association between occurrence of breast cancer and parity, obesity, stressful health event, family history, age of menarche