Clinical and pathological characteristics of young patients with breast cancer at a cancer center in Medellin: Original Research

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the main neoplasm in women, and an increased incidence has been reported in young people under 40 years of age. The objective of the present study was to describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with invasive breast cancer, under 40 years old, treated at a reference oncology center in Medellín-Colombia.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out by the statistics department of the Vida Clinic (Colombian Cancer Foundation) from January 2015 to December 2019. The sample was nonprob-abilistic of patients with an oncological diagnosis of invasive breast cancer. Age, type of cancer, fami-ly history, recurrence, and mortality were recorded. Descriptive statistics are used.

Results: Of 2332 cases of new invasive breast cancer, 261 were identified in women under 49 years, 11.19% (95% CI 11.17-11.22%), age 34.2±4 years. 16.5% in those under 30 years of age, 40.2% in women between 30 and 45 years of age, and 42.2% in women between 35 and 40 years of age. The main presentation was a self-detected palpable mass. The molecular subtypes luminal A 16%, lu-minal B 48.3%, Her2 enriched 11.2%, and triple-negative 21.6%. A total of 27% had a family history. Recurrence was 14%, and mortality was 14.9%.

Conclusion: Eleven percent of patients with breast cancer in this series were young women, with a presentation in more advanced stages and unfavorable molecular biology, which requires more ag-gressive and radical management. This highlights the importance of timely diagnosis in young women with breast injuries.