Five Years Retrospective Clinicoepidemiological Study of Breast Cancer Patients at Clinical Oncology Department Ain Shams University

Abstract

SUMMARY B reast cancer is the most common cancer among females worldwide, and the second most common cause of cancer related death after lung cancer, which makes its global burden substantial. However, the burden is not evenly distributed worldwide: with large variations between different countries, regions, and within specific regions (Hortobagyi et al., 2005). The development of breast cancer has been associated with numerous risk factors, including genetic, environmental, hormonal influences yet 75%of women with this cancer have no readily identifiable risk factors (Jardines et al., 2014). Breast cancer is presented by a variety of symptoms and signs of which a lump constitutes the most common presentation. Nipple discharge, skin changes (peau d'orange), axillary lymphadenopathy, nipple retraction, paget's disease and inflammatory breast cancer are among other manifestations (Pegram et al., 2012). Distant metastasis could be the first presenting symptom in breast cancer. Common sites are bone, liver, lung and brain. Almost 5% of breast cancer cases in the developing countries present by distant or metastatic stage (stage IV) (Lawrence et al., 2010). The diagnosis of breast cancer is based on history and clinical examination of the breasts and locoregional lymph nodes in combination with imaging including bilateral mammography and ultrasound or MRI if needed and imaging for detecting metastasis and finally confirmed by pathological assessment (Saslow et al., 2004) It is of utmost importance to be able to distinguish prognostic and predictive factors for every patient. Prognostic factors are key elements for oncologists to select those patients who are candidates for adjuvant treatment based on their risk of tumor relapse. While, predictive factors drive the decision of which type(s) of treatment should be given (Biganzoli, 2009).